have passed

USAGE SUMMARY

"have passed" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to refer to an event in the past that has already happened, or to refer to something that has gone by or expired. For example, "Many years have passed since I last saw my old friend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

These illusions have passed.

The New York Times

Those days have passed.

The New York Times

Should it have passed?

The New York Times

None have passed.

The New York Times

Twelve years have passed.

The New York Times - Sports

Drills have passed behind us".

The New Yorker

Thirty minutes must have passed.

Independent

"He will have passed by.

The New Yorker

Now 12 months have passed.

The New York Times

But he might have passed.

The New York Times

FOUR years have passed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the tense agreement in your sentence. Since "have passed" is present perfect, the context should refer to actions or states that started in the past and continue to have relevance in the present.

Common error

A common mistake is using "past" (referring to a previous time or something that has already happened) instead of "passed" (the past participle of the verb "to pass"). For example, avoid writing "The deadline has past" and instead write "The deadline has passed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have passed" functions as a present perfect verb phrase, indicating that an action (passing) was completed at some point in the past and has relevance to the present. As indicated by Ludwig, this phrase is widely accepted and grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have passed" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction in English, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It functions as a present perfect verb phrase, indicating the completion of an action or the passage of time with relevance to the present. Predominantly found in News & Media, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various contexts. Common errors include confusing "passed" with "past", so always double-check the spelling. Consider using synonyms like "have elapsed" for a more formal context or "have gone by" for an informal one. The phrase is very common and used in a wide variety of contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have elapsed

Emphasizes the passage of time in a more formal or literary context.

have gone by

A more informal way to describe the passage of time.

have been completed

Focuses on the completion of a task or requirement, rather than the passage of time.

have transpired

Implies a sequence of events that have occurred.

have come to pass

A more figurative or idiomatic way to say that something has happened.

have been achieved

Focuses on the attainment of a goal or milestone.

have qualified

Specifically relates to meeting certain criteria or standards.

have concluded

Implies a formal ending or resolution.

have run their course

Suggests that something has naturally come to an end.

have advanced

Indicates progression or movement forward in time or achievement.

FAQs

How can I use "have passed" in a sentence?

The phrase "have passed" indicates that a certain amount of time has elapsed or that something has been successfully completed. For example, "Several years "have elapsed" since the event" or "The bill "has been approved" by the Senate".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "have passed" when referring to time?

If you want to express that time has gone by, you could use phrases such as ""have elapsed"", "have gone by", or "have transpired".

When is it appropriate to use "have passed" instead of "has passed"?

"Have passed" is used with plural subjects or with the pronouns "I", "you", "we", and "they". "Has passed" is used with singular subjects or with the pronouns "he", "she", and "it". For instance, "They have gone by" versus "He "has gone by"".

Is "have passed" formal or informal?

The phrase "have passed" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The specific tone will depend on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure. However, if you need an alternative to "have passed" for an academic context, consider using ""have elapsed"".