past
/pɑːst/ (bre, ipa) · /pæst/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈpast/ (ame, mw)
past — 介系詞
1. at a place farther on than a chosen point, or moving by that point and beyond it
經過；越過
經過某點並到更前面
at a place farther on than a chosen point, or moving by that point and beyond it.
Our house is just past the bridge near the small bakery.
我們家就在那座橋再過去、靠近小麵包店的地方。
location beyond a landmark
The bus drove past the school before the rain started.
公車在下雨前開過了那所學校。
drive past + place
A narrow path runs past the lake and up the hill.
一條窄窄的小路從湖邊經過，再往上通到山坡。
Mina waved as Daniel cycled past the front gate.
Daniel 騎車經過前門時，Mina 揮了揮手。
文法句型
go / walk / drive past + noun
be just past + landmark
用法筆記
With movement verbs, the object is the point that gets left behind. It is also common in directions for a place slightly farther on than a landmark.
常見錯誤
2. used after a number of minutes to give the time after an hour has started.
過
表示整點後幾分
used after a number of minutes to give the time after an hour has started.
The clock showed ten past six when the first train arrived.
第一班火車到的時候已經六點過十分了。
time: minutes + past + hour
Please call me at a quarter past three.
請在三點一刻打給我。
a quarter past + hour
The meeting started at five past nine in Room 12.
會議在九點零五分於 12 號教室開始。
By twenty past one, the cafe was already full.
到一點二十分時，那家咖啡館已經客滿了。
- after
common especially in American English for clock time
- minutes after
more explicit wording, often used when explaining the pattern
文法句型
[minutes] + past + [hour]
a quarter / half past + [hour]
用法筆記
This sense is only for minutes after the hour. In American English, 'after' is also used, but 'past' works in both British and American English.
常見錯誤
3. later than a stated time or age, or beyond a level that can be reached or handle
超過；晚於
超出某時間、年齡或範圍
later than a stated time or age, or beyond a level that can be reached or handled.
Children past age five can join the summer reading club.
超過五歲的孩子可以參加暑期閱讀社。
past + age expression
We were still awake past midnight, waiting for the test results.
我們一直醒著到午夜過後，等考試結果。
past + time point
The shop will not accept coupons past the printed date.
超過印上的日期後，這家店就不收優惠券了。
The math book was past Leo's level by sixth grade.
那本數學書對 Leo 來說，到了六年級時已經超過他的程度了。
文法句型
past + age / midnight / deadline
be past + someone's level / reach
用法筆記
Unlike sense 2, this sense is not limited to clock time after the hour. It often follows words for age, midnight, dates, deadlines, or someone's ability.
常見錯誤
past — 形容詞
1. used with a time word for the stretch leading up to now or to a moment that has
過去的
直到現在前的一段時間
used with a time word for the stretch leading up to now or to a moment that has just ended.
The past week has been very busy at the hospital.
過去的一週，醫院一直非常忙。
the past + time period
Rain has damaged the road over the past two months.
過去兩個月來的雨已經把那條路弄壞了。
over the past + period
In the past year, Nora has learned to cook.
在過去一年裡，Nora 已經學會做飯。
The town changed a lot during the past decade.
那個小鎮在過去十年間改變了很多。
文法句型
the past + week / month / year
in / over / during the past + period
用法筆記
This sense is mainly used with time periods such as week, month, year, and decade. Distinguish it from adjective sense 2, which describes earlier events, experiences, or roles rather than a period leading up to now.
常見錯誤
2. from an older stage in life or history, or naming a role someone had before but
以往；前任
較早期的；以前擔任過的
from an older stage in life or history, or naming a role someone had before but does not have now.
Her past jobs included work in a small family bakery.
她以往做過的工作，包括在一間家庭小麵包店上班。
past + jobs
Several past presidents attended the university dinner last night.
幾位前任校長昨晚出席了大學晚宴。
past + office holders
The lawyer studied past cases before speaking in court.
那位律師在法庭發言前先研究了以往的案例。
During the interview, Maya described her past experience in hotel kitchens.
面試時，Maya 談到自己以前在旅館廚房工作的經驗。
文法句型
past + experience / cases / jobs
past + president / chairman / owner
用法筆記
This sense stays before a noun. It can describe old events, relationships, or experiences, and it also appears with titles for people who once had a role. Distinguish from sense 1, which is restricted to time periods such as 'the past year'.
常見錯誤
3. finished or safely over, so it is no longer happening or a danger.
已過；結束
已經過去，不再持續
finished or safely over, so it is no longer happening or a danger.
By noon, the worst of the storm was past.
到了中午，最糟的暴風雨已經過去了。
the worst is past
By dawn, the crisis was past and the nurses sat down.
到了天亮，危機已經過去，護理師們才坐下來。
crisis was past
By evening, the trouble was past and the children laughed again.
到了傍晚，麻煩已經過去，孩子們又笑了起來。
The danger was past after the fire crews arrived.
消防隊到場後，危險就已經解除了。
文法句型
be past
the worst / danger is past
用法筆記
This sense usually follows a form of 'be'. Common subjects are danger, worst, fear, crisis, and trouble. It is not normally placed before a noun.
常見錯誤
4. used in grammar for verb forms that show something happened before now.
過去式的
語法中表示先前動作的形式
used in grammar for verb forms that show something happened before now.
In 'walked', the ending shows the past form.
在 walked 這個字裡，字尾顯示了過去式形式。
past form in grammar talk
Ms. Chen asked the class to change the sentence into past tense.
Ms. Chen 要全班把那個句子改成過去式。
into past tense
The verb 'was' is a past form of 'be'.
was 是 be 的過去式形式。
This worksheet practices past tense with words like yesterday.
這張講義在練習和 yesterday 這類時間詞搭配的過去式。
- past-tense
hyphenated adjective used before another noun
- preterite
technical grammar term, more formal and less common for learners
文法句型
past tense
past form
simple past
用法筆記
This sense belongs to grammar explanations and usually appears with words such as tense, form, or simple. It is not the ordinary time meaning of 'past'.
常見錯誤
past — 名詞
1. the time before now, or the things that happened in that earlier time.
過往；往事
現在以前的時間或往事
the time before now, or the things that happened in that earlier time.
People in the village still talk about floods from the past.
村裡的人至今還會談起過往那些洪水。
from the past
The film mixes scenes from the present and the past.
這部電影把現在和過往的場景交錯在一起。
the present and the past
At the museum, Ken stared at photos of the town's past.
在博物館裡，Ken 盯著那些小鎮過往的照片看。
Old letters can teach children about life in the past.
老信件能讓孩子了解過去的生活。
- history
broader; can also mean the academic subject or a recorded story of events
- former times
more descriptive and slightly formal
- the old days
informal and often nostalgic
文法句型
the past
in / from the past
learn from the past
用法筆記
This noun usually appears as 'the past'. It can mean earlier time in general, or events and life from that time. Distinguish from noun sense 2, which focuses on one person's private or shameful background.
常見錯誤
2. a person's earlier life, especially parts involving crime, shame, or secrets.
不良過往
尤指不想提的犯罪或羞愧經歷
a person's earlier life, especially parts involving crime, shame, or secrets.
The reporter found a violent past behind the smiling actor.
記者發現，那位笑容滿面的演員背後有一段暴力的不良過往。
adjective + past for hidden background
Lena never told her children that prison was part of her past.
Lena 從沒告訴孩子，坐牢曾是她過往的一部分。
part of someone's past
Voters worried about the mayor's dishonest past before the election.
選民在選前擔心市長那段不誠實的過去。
His criminal past made banks refuse his loan application.
他的犯罪前科讓銀行拒絕了貸款申請。
- background
more neutral; not always negative or secret
- history
can fit, but it is broader and less personal in tone
- record
often narrower, especially for official or criminal information
- present
someone's life or situation now
文法句型
someone's past
criminal / troubled / violent past
用法筆記
This sense normally points to one person's background and often carries judgment or secrecy. It is much narrower than noun sense 1, which means earlier time in general.
常見錯誤
3. the verb tense, or a verb in that tense, that shows something happened earlier t
過去式
動詞表示先前動作的時態或形式
the verb tense, or a verb in that tense, that shows something happened earlier than now.
In English, 'ate' is the past of 'eat'.
在英文裡，ate 是 eat 的過去式。
the past of + verb
The teacher wrote the past and present on the board.
老師把過去式和現在式寫在黑板上。
the past and present in grammar contrast
Children usually learn the past after the present tense.
孩子通常是在學完現在式後才學過去式。
This exercise asks students to change verbs into the past.
這份練習要學生把動詞改成過去式。
- past tense
the clearest full term for learners
- preterite
technical term used in grammar books
- present tense
grammar form for actions or states now
- future tense
grammar form or label for later time reference
文法句型
the past
the past tense
the past of + verb
用法筆記
In grammar lessons, 'the past tense' is often clearer than just 'the past', especially when there could be confusion with noun sense 1.
常見錯誤
past — 副詞
1. in a way that goes by a person, place, or point and continues beyond it.
過去
從旁邊或某點經過而往前
in a way that goes by a person, place, or point and continues beyond it.
A black car sped past and splashed water on us.
一輛黑色轎車飛快地開過去，濺了我們一身水。
verb + past without object
I looked up as two runners went past.
我抬頭時，兩名跑者正好跑過去。
went past without naming an object
The dog slipped past and ran into the garden.
那隻狗一下子溜了過去，跑進花園裡。
Clouds drifted past while we waited on the roof.
我們在屋頂等的時候，雲慢慢飄了過去。
文法句型
go / run / drive past
slip / drift / speed past
用法筆記
Unlike the preposition sense, this adverb stands alone without an object after it. Compare 'The bus drove past the school' with 'The bus drove past.'