Pass past tense

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Meaning of pass

to move past or go by.

Infinitive

Word: pass /pæs/
Examples:
  • 1. He usually passes the ball to his teammate during the game.
  • 2. The teacher passes out the test papers at the beginning of class.
  • 3. The train passes through the town at 6 p.m. every evening.

Past Simple

Word: passed /pæst/
Examples:
  • 1. She passed her driving test on the first attempt.
  • 2. The football sailed through the air as he passed it to his teammate.
  • 3. The time passed quickly while they were playing video games.

Past Participle

Word: passed /pæst/
Examples:
  • 1. The final exam has been passed by all the students in the class.
  • 2. All the difficult hurdles were successfully passed by the team.
  • 3. The new law was passed by the government after much debate.

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Bare infinitive

  1. Habitual Actions. Used to describe routines or habits that regularly happen or are universally true.
    Example. She passes her old school on her way to work every day.
    Example. Water passes from a liquid to a solid state when it freezes.
    Example. The next train passes at 6.30 PM.
  2. General Truths. When stating facts or general truths.
    Example. She passes her old school on her way to work every day.
    Example. Water passes from a liquid to a solid state when it freezes.
    Example. The next train passes at 6.30 PM.
  3. Fixed Arrangements. Sometimes used for scheduled events in the near future, especially in a timetable or schedule context.
    Example. She passes her old school on her way to work every day.
    Example. Water passes from a liquid to a solid state when it freezes.
    Example. The next train passes at 6.30 PM.

Past Simple

  1. Completed Actions in the Past. Used for actions that were completed at some point in the past, with no connection to the present.
    Example. He passed the exam last semester.
    Example. We passed by that coffee shop every morning before it closed down.
    Example. She packed her suitcase, passed her keys to her neighbor, and left for the airport.
  2. Past Habit. Describes habits or routines that were true in the past but not anymore.
    Example. He passed the exam last semester.
    Example. We passed by that coffee shop every morning before it closed down.
    Example. She packed her suitcase, passed her keys to her neighbor, and left for the airport.
  3. Sequential Actions in the Past. When narrating a series of completed actions or events in the past.
    Example. He passed the exam last semester.
    Example. We passed by that coffee shop every morning before it closed down.
    Example. She packed her suitcase, passed her keys to her neighbor, and left for the airport.

Past Participle

  1. Perfect Tenses.
    Example. They have already passed all their exams.
    Example. She had passed the most challenging test of her life before she turned twenty.
    Example. By next week, he will have passed all his interviews.
    Example. The law was passed unanimously by the legislature.
    Example. Having passed her driving test, she immediately bought a car.
  2. a. Present Perfect. For actions that occurred at an unspecified time in the past or actions that started in the past and continue in the present.
    Example. They have already passed all their exams.
    Example. She had passed the most challenging test of her life before she turned twenty.
    Example. By next week, he will have passed all his interviews.
    Example. The law was passed unanimously by the legislature.
    Example. Having passed her driving test, she immediately bought a car.
  3. b. Past Perfect. For actions that were completed before another action in the past.
    Example. They have already passed all their exams.
    Example. She had passed the most challenging test of her life before she turned twenty.
    Example. By next week, he will have passed all his interviews.
    Example. The law was passed unanimously by the legislature.
    Example. Having passed her driving test, she immediately bought a car.
  4. c. Future Perfect. To describe actions that will have been completed by a certain future time.
    Example. They have already passed all their exams.
    Example. She had passed the most challenging test of her life before she turned twenty.
    Example. By next week, he will have passed all his interviews.
    Example. The law was passed unanimously by the legislature.
    Example. Having passed her driving test, she immediately bought a car.
  5. Passive Voice. When the focus is on the action or the recipient of the action rather than who or what is performing the action.
    Example. They have already passed all their exams.
    Example. She had passed the most challenging test of her life before she turned twenty.
    Example. By next week, he will have passed all his interviews.
    Example. The law was passed unanimously by the legislature.
    Example. Having passed her driving test, she immediately bought a car.
  6. Perfect Participle Phrases. Often used to indicate a cause or provide a reason for an action, particularly with having + 3. Past Participle.
    Example. They have already passed all their exams.
    Example. She had passed the most challenging test of her life before she turned twenty.
    Example. By next week, he will have passed all his interviews.
    Example. The law was passed unanimously by the legislature.
    Example. Having passed her driving test, she immediately bought a car.

Common mistakes

— 01

Confusing with 'past'

A frequent mistake involves confusing the past simple and past participle form 'passed' with the similar-sounding word 'past.' 'Passed' is the correct form for the action of passing (e.g., 'He passed the ball'), whereas 'past' refers to a time before the present (e.g., 'It happened in the past'). This confusion can lead to errors in both writing and speaking, as learners might use one when they mean the other, misunderstanding their distinct uses and meanings.

— 02

Mispronunciation

The correct pronunciation of 'passed' is /pæst/, but learners often struggle with the vowel sound or the ending, leading to mispronunciation. English pronunciation can be challenging due to its inconsistency, and learners might pronounce 'passed' with a long vowel sound or an incorrect ending, affecting comprehension. It's essential to recognize the short vowel sound /æ/ and the final /st/ sound to clearly distinguish 'passed' from similar words.

— 03

Incorrectly Using 'Passed'

Another common mistake is using 'passed' instead of 'past' when referring to movement in relation to time or location, not an action performed by someone or something. For example, saying 'We walked passed the store' instead of the correct 'We walked past the store.' This mistake arises from confusing the action of passing (which requires 'passed') with expressions of movement or location relative to another object or time (which require 'past'). Understanding the distinction between these contexts helps in choosing the correct word.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past simple form of 'pass'?

The past simple form of 'pass' is 'passed.' It is used to describe actions that happened at a specific time in the past. For example, 'Yesterday, I passed the old library on my way home.'

What is the past participle form of 'pass'?

The past participle form of 'pass' is also 'passed.' It is used in perfect tense forms to describe actions that have been completed at some point in the past. For example, 'By the end of the day, she had passed all her exams.'

Can you give an example of a sentence using 'pass' in the past simple tense?

Yes, an example of a sentence using 'pass' in the past simple tense could be, 'Last week, they passed the new law.' This sentence indicates that the action of passing the new law occurred at a specific time in the past, which is last week.

How can I use 'passed' in a sentence to show a completed action in the past?

To show a completed action in the past using 'passed,' you can use it in the present perfect or past perfect tense. For instance, in the present perfect tense, you might say, 'We have passed all the checkpoints.' This implies that the action of passing the checkpoints is complete up to the present moment. In the past perfect tense, an example could be, 'Before the meeting started, the committee had already passed the resolution.' This sentence suggests that the action of passing the resolution was completed before the meeting began.