long time has passed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'long time has passed' is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase when talking about an instance when a significant amount of time has passed. For example, "It's been ten years since I last saw my old friend - a long time has passed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

A long time has passed and yet rates have only moved in one direction: down.

Independent

A long time has passed since I started running on an everyday basis.

The New Yorker

By Haruki Murakami A long time has passed since I started running on an everyday basis.

The New Yorker

Still, the fact remains that a very long time has passed without significant new ideas pouring out of City Hall.

The New York Times

Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist £34.99-£49.99 PS360Xbox 360, Wii U, PC Ubisoft ***** A long time has passed since Splinter Cell first stalked on to the Xbox, its perennial protagonist, Sam Fisher, dazzling in signature night-vision goggles.

Independent

An awfully long time has passed since anyone thought of the Muslim world in general, let alone the Arab world in particular, as an incubator of great ideas in science or technology.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

A long time had passed since my previous trip to a child psychiatrist.

The New Yorker

"I wanted to stop," she said, "but a long time had passed".

The New York Times

If a long time had passed since he'd last seen me, this dog would be so happy that, when he wriggled on his back waiting for me to pet him, he'd wet himself.

The New Yorker

Thereafter, despite content in textbooks that said the constituents of teeth are similar to those of bones, the idea of using demineralized teeth as a bone graft material was not actually applied to clinical areas until a long time had passed and the idea was recently reported by domestic research teams to the academic world [12], leading to a sudden increase in attention.

Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Nonetheless, I remember that it felt like a long time had passed before this bear was adequately sedated.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "long time has passed" to emphasize the duration between two events, especially when the intervening period is relevant to the current situation.

Common error

While "long time has passed" is acceptable in many situations, it can sound less sophisticated in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for alternatives like "a considerable period has elapsed" for a more refined tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "long time has passed" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the duration of time that has elapsed. It describes the temporal distance between two points in time, emphasizing the length of the interval. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "long time has passed" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that a considerable duration has elapsed. As Ludwig AI points out, it's widely used across various contexts, from news and media to scientific articles, indicating its versatility. While it's generally acceptable, more formal alternatives might be preferred in highly academic settings. The phrase functions as an adverbial modifier, emphasizing the significance of the elapsed time and influencing the current situation. When employing this phrase, consider the context and adjust your tone accordingly. Remember that other phrases like "a considerable amount of time has gone by" and "much time has elapsed" can provide similar meanings with slight variations in formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a considerable amount of time has gone by

Replaces "long time" with "considerable amount of time", emphasizing the substantial duration.

a great deal of time has gone by

Replaces "long time" with "a great deal of time", increasing the emphasis on the quantity of time.

much time has elapsed

Uses "much time" and "elapsed" to offer a more formal alternative.

a significant period has transpired

Employs "significant period" and "transpired" for a more sophisticated tone.

ages have gone by

Uses a hyperbole "ages" to emphasize the length of time.

it's been a while

Offers a more casual and understated way to express the same idea.

years have passed

Specifies the unit of time (years) to highlight the duration.

time has flown by

Focuses on the subjective experience of time passing quickly.

the years have rolled on

Uses a more poetic and evocative expression to indicate the passage of time.

it feels like a lifetime ago

Uses hyperbolic language to emphasize how distant the past event feels.

FAQs

How can I use "long time has passed" in a sentence?

You can use "long time has passed" to indicate that a significant duration has elapsed since a previous event. For example, "A "long time has passed" since we last spoke, and many things have changed."

What can I say instead of "long time has passed"?

You can use alternatives like "a considerable amount of time has gone by", "much time has elapsed", or "it's been a while" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "a long time had passed"?

Yes, "a long time had passed" is grammatically correct. It's often used to describe a situation in the past where a significant duration had already elapsed before another event occurred, as indicated in the examples of Ludwig.

What is the difference between "long time has passed" and "long time ago"?

"Long time has passed" emphasizes the duration and its impact on the present situation. "Long time ago" simply indicates that something happened far in the past, with less focus on the elapsed duration's relevance to the present. For example, I saw a bear "long time ago" / A "long time has passed" since I saw that bear.