Past and Passed

[Coragem]

Hi there:

Spelling never was my strong suit but, anyway, I have a little problem in that I'm never quite sure whether to use "past" or "passed".

I've researched it, and it seems to me that:

1) "Past" us used when the word functions as an adverb. So, "She walked past the elephant." (Walk is the verb, past as adverb)

2) "Past" is used as a transitive verb. So, as I understand it, when the action is effecting another object. If she walks past an elephant she has an effect on the elephant.

3) "Passed" is used as an intransitive verb. So, as I understand it, to describe moving from one place to another without effecting any other object: "They passed from house to house." Also, to describe passage of time: "The day passed pleasantly."

4) "Passed" is also used to describe going through / achieving something ("She passed the test.") or to describe an item (e.g., a ball) being "passed" between people.

Anyway, am I on the money and does anyone have any further hints that might help?

Thank you!

Coragem

 

[amberwaves]

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/passed-vs-past/

here's an interesting site.
my favorite from there is this:

Passed is the past participle of the verb “to pass”. It can be an intransitive verb (one which doesn’t require an object) or a transitive verb (one which requires both a subject and one or more objects).

 

[HareBrain]

2) "Past" is used as a transitive verb. So, as I understand it, when the action is effecting another object. If she walks past an elephant she has an effect on the elephant.

Your other three are right, but I'm not sure where you got this. "Past" is never used as a verb (at least not according to my experience or my dictionary). The verb in your sentence about the elephant is "walks", and "past" is I think technically an adverb.

BTW, while we're on the differences between similar words, it's "affecting" another object. To affect (as a verb) is to change; to effect (as a verb) is to make happen.

 

[Abernovo]

Coragem, what is the sentence that you're having problems with?

 

[The Judge]

"Past" used to be a variant spelling of "passed" -- the past (ha!) participle of the verb "to pass", but that's no longer the case. It can be an adjective, adverb, preposition and noun, but it's verbing days are long gone.

 

[Coragem]

"Past" used to be a variant spelling of "passed" -- the past (ha!) participle of the verb "to pass", but that's no longer the case. It can be an adjective, adverb, preposition and noun, but it's verbing days are long gone.

Ah, okay. I think I'm getting it sussed now. If it's a verb, it's "passed".

Thanks all.

Coragem.

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Exactly. She passed the elephant, but she walked past the elephant. She passed the test, but the test is in the past.

And as HB says, you affect an object, but you have an effect on the object. You can also effect change upon the object.

 

[Ursa major]

She passed an elephant?


That's one trunk call of nature....

 

[TheDustyZebra]

Well, in that case, the object has an effect on you ... and you should probably effect some change in your diet.