English Profile

past · preposition

/pæst/Full view

past (TIME)

A1 used to say what the time is when it is a particular number of minutes after an hour

Dictionary examples:

It's 5/10/a quarter/20/25/half past three.

I've got to leave at twenty past or I'll be late.

Learner example:

The class started the 2nd of June at half past five. (Key English Test; A2; Spanish)

past (POSITION)

A2 in or to a position that is further than a particular point

Dictionary examples:

I live on Stanton Street, just past the post office.

Three boys went past us on bikes.

Was that Peter who just ran past wearing bright yellow shorts?

Learner example:

Turn right past the store and turn left ok? (Key English Test; A2; Spanish)

past (AFTER LIMIT)

B2 beyond a particular age or further than a particular point

Dictionary examples:

This milk is past its expiration date.

She's past the age where she needs a babysitter.

past · adjective

/pæst/

past (BEFORE NOW)

B1 always before noun having happened or existed before now

Dictionary examples:

past relationships

I know this from past experience.

Learner example:

I like the place because it has [nice] people, music and all sorts of things [about] past events. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Spanish)

past (UNTIL NOW)

B1 always before noun used to refer to a period of time before and until the present

Dictionary examples:

I've moved twice in the past ten years.

It's been raining for the past three days.

He was the fifth climber to die on these mountains over the past two days.

Learner example:

For the past four years I have been playing tennis and I have also done some courses about painting. (First Certificate in English; B2; Spanish)

past · noun

/pæst/

the past

A2 the form of the verb which is used to show what happened in the past

Dictionary example:

The past of "change" is "changed."

the past

B1 the time before the present and all the things that happened then

Dictionary examples:

the distant/recent past

In the past, more travel was by train.

Learner example:

In the past, we were best friends. (Preliminary English Test; B1; German)

sb's past

B1 all of the things that someone has done in their life

Dictionary example:

I knew nothing about his past.

Learner example:

After the film, we went to a restaurant called Adriano, and as the weather was cool, we had a glass of wine and started asking [about] each other's past. (Preliminary English Test; B1; Portuguese)