past
past; beyond a point (passing it)
- Space: pass a point/place and continue (walk past the school).
- Time: later than a time (It's past 3 o'clock) or clock-reading (ten past six).
Scene category
Controls
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Examples
Spatial examples
Walk past the school.
The bus went past the stop.
Time examples
It's ten past six.
It's just past midnight.
It's past 3 o'clock.
Dynamic examples
Go past the bank and turn left.
A car sped past us.
Related prepositions
Key differences
Past mainly means "passing a point and going beyond it". In time, it can mean "later than a time" (It's past 3 o'clock) or clock-reading (ten past six). Learners often mix past vs to (clock) and past vs after (sequence).
Clock reading: past is minutes after the hour; to is minutes before the next hour.
After is simple time order (after class). Past is common for later than a time (It's past midnight) or passing a place.
Beyond focuses on being farther than a point/limit. Past focuses on moving past a point and continuing.
Quick check questions (decision tree)
Is it clock reading (minutes after/before an hour)?
After the hour (1–30) -> past; before the next hour (31–59) -> to.
Do you mean later than a time point or beyond a limit?
Yes -> past works (It's past 3 o'clock, past the deadline).
Is there a route/motion meaning: pass a place and continue?
Yes -> use past (go/walk/drive past the bank).
Do you only mean time order after an event?
Yes -> use after; past is more about being beyond a point.
Do you mean farther than a point/limit without a passing idea?
Yes -> beyond may be better than past.
Common collocations
Routes and passing (space)
Clock time
Beyond a point/limit
Common mistakes
Avoid: It's ten past six. (when it is 5:50)
Use: It's ten to six.
Reason: In clock time, past = minutes after; to = minutes before the next hour.
Avoid: The bus past the stop.
Use: The bus went past the stop.
Reason: Past is a preposition, so it needs a verb phrase like go/walk/drive past.
Avoid: I saw him past week.
Use: I saw him last week.
Reason: Use last for "previous" time periods (last week/month).
Mini quiz
Question 1
Choose the correct preposition: It's ten ___ six.
Choose an answer
Question 2
Choose the correct preposition: Go ___ the bank and turn left.
Choose an answer
Question 3
Choose the correct preposition: We're already ___ the deadline.
Choose an answer
Quick FAQ
What is the core meaning of past?+
Past means passing a point/place and going beyond it (walk past the school).
Can past be used for time?+
Yes. It can mean later than a time (It's past 3 o'clock) and it is common in clock reading (ten past six).
Past vs to in clock time?+
Past is minutes after the hour (usually 1–30). To is minutes before the next hour (usually 31–59).
Past vs after: what's the difference?+
After is general time order (after class). Past often means beyond a time point/limit (past midnight, past the deadline).
Past vs beyond: what's the difference?+
Past focuses on passing a point and continuing. Beyond focuses on being farther than a point or outside a limit.
Do I need an object after past?+
As a preposition, yes: past + noun phrase (past the bank). Past can also be an adjective/noun (past experience, the past), but that is not the preposition use.
What are common learner mistakes with past?+
Mixing up past vs to in clock time, and treating past like a verb (say went past / walked past).
A 30-second memory rule for past?+
Picture two scenes: (1) a path passing a point and continuing, (2) a clock with minutes past the hour. If there is motion (go/walk/drive), past is often the match.