hours have passed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hours have passed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to describe the passage of time. For example, "Many hours have passed since we began our journey."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Where were you?" I guess hours have passed.

The New Yorker

Untold hours have passed, and they are still holding hands.

The New York Times

Two hours have passed in this strange pastoral.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The watch says that two hours have passed.

The New Yorker

"Some 24 hours have passed, and they have heard nothing".

The New York Times

By the time I remember, three hours have passed.

The Guardian

Maddy looks at the dashboard clock; two hours have passed.

The New Yorker

It's 6 20 p.m. Two hours have passed.

The New York Times

He emerges from the tank not realizing that five hours have passed.

The New York Times

Dreamily happy, he looks at his watch and panics: only two hours have passed!

The New Yorker

Some say they will wait until 72 hours have passed, but continuing aftershocks rekindled their fear.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hours have passed" to clearly indicate the completion of a certain duration, often emphasizing a change or realization after that time.

Common error

Avoid using "hours had passed" when simply stating the passage of time. "Hours had passed" implies a past perfect tense, requiring a subsequent action or event that occurred after the hours had passed. Use "hours have passed" for general statements.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hours have passed" functions as an indication of elapsed time. It signifies that a period measured in hours has come to an end. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Wiki

21%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "hours have passed" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to denote the completion of a duration measured in hours. Ludwig AI analysis validates its correctness. It is versatile enough to appear in various contexts from news and media to general informational content. Its primary function is to inform about the duration of time, often emphasizing the consequences or realizations that follow. While applicable across various registers, it maintains a neutral tone suitable for both formal and informal communication. When aiming for semantic variations, alternatives like "time has gone by" or "several hours went by", may be employed depending on the specific nuance required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

several hours went by

Similar meaning but emphasizes the duration with "several".

a few hours have gone by

Similar meaning with the use of "a few" to indicate a small amount of time.

time has gone by

Focuses on the general passage of time rather than a specific duration.

time has elapsed

Formal and emphasizes the completion of a time period.

it's been hours

More informal way of expressing that a significant amount of time has passed.

the hours drifted by

Suggests a slow, almost imperceptible passage of time.

the time slipped away

Implies a subtle or unnoticed passage of time.

some time has passed

More general and doesn't specify the number of hours.

the hours ticked away

Emphasizes the incremental passage of time, like a clock.

ages have passed

Hyperbolic, indicating a very long time has passed.

FAQs

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

You can use "hours have passed" to indicate the duration of time, for example, "After several hours have passed, the situation began to improve."

What's the difference between "hours have passed" and "hours had passed"?

"Hours have passed" indicates a present perfect tense, generally referring to a time elapsed up to the present. "Hours had passed" indicates a past perfect tense, meaning the hours elapsed before another event in the past.

What can I say instead of "hours have passed"?

You can use alternatives like "time has gone by", "time has elapsed", or "several hours went by" depending on the context.

Is "hours has passed" grammatically correct?

No, "hours has passed" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "hours have passed" because "hours" is plural and requires the plural form of the auxiliary verb "have".