past

Everyday

1. The past is time that has gone, before now. tree →
2. Past (preposition) means going by something: he walked past the shop. tree →
3. In telling time, past means after the hour: «Half past three» is 3:30. tree →
4. Past (adjective) means just gone: the past week. tree →
5. Past also means beyond: past midnight, past the bridge. tree →

In the lessons

In maths: telling time: «half past», «10 past 4»; time before now; going by a place; «the past 3 days» is a number of days. In grammar: the past tense (walked, ran). In history: learning about the past. In stories: «long in the past», «she ran past the gate».

Examples

• It is half past 2. tree →
• The bus came 20 minutes past 8. tree →
• In the past 3 days she read 60 pages. tree →
• He walked past 5 houses. tree →
• In the past, people wrote with feather pens. tree →
• It's past your bedtime! tree →
• «Ran» is the past tense of «run». tree →
• Quarter past ten is 10:15. tree →
• Go past the church and turn left. tree →
• Suddenly there rode past another horseman. tree →

Note

«Minutes past» an hour: add to the hour. «Half past» = 30 minutes, «quarter past» = 15. Trap: «the past 3 days» gives a number of days. Trap: past and passed sound the same: «passed» is the verb («she passed the ball»), «past» is the place or time word. Opposite: future; with time, «to» (quarter to 4 = 3:45).

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: In the Prophets and Writings "past" can mean beyond reach: God's wisdom is "past searching out" and His deeds "past finding out". It also means over and gone, like winter in the Song of Songs. In the primary lessons: In maths: telling time: «half past», «10 past 4»; time before now; going by a place; «the past 3 days» is a number of days. In grammar: the past tense (walked, ran). In history: learning about the past. In stories: «long in the past», «she ran past the gate».

Examples

• And this is the case of the manslayer, that shall flee thither and live: whoso killeth his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in time past; (Torah DEU.19.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• that the manslayer might flee thither, that slayeth his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in time past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live: (Torah DEU.4.42, JPS 1917) tree →
• And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke unto the house of Pharaoh, saying: 'If now I have found favour in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying: (Torah GEN.50.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• His discernment is past searching out. (Prophets ISA.40.28, JPS 1917) tree →
• Who doeth great things past finding out; yea, marvellous things without number. (Writings JOB.9.10, JPS 1917) tree →
• For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; (Writings SNG.2.11, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

«Minutes past» an hour: add to the hour. «Half past» = 30 minutes, «quarter past» = 15. Trap: «the past 3 days» gives a number of days. Trap: past and passed sound the same: «passed» is the verb («she passed the ball»), «past» is the place or time word. Opposite: future; with time, «to» (quarter to 4 = 3:45).