very past

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "very past" is not standard or commonly used in written English.
It may be intended to describe something that is significantly in the past, but it lacks clarity and is not widely recognized. Example: "The events of that summer feel very past, almost like a distant memory."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

She's always moving at a very past pace with her ideas".

The Guardian - Music

As he consigns himself to that very past, perhaps the sly, silent smile of his extended leave-taking is his parting gift.

The New Yorker

But there was something about his tone that came across as hectoring, like the denunciations that were so much part of the very past he abhorred.

The Guardian - Books

And in the ambitious concluding story, "Great Day," which recounts the birthday festivities of a distinguished retired civil servant ("his signature had appeared on the nation's banknotes"), an arsonist sets fire to a local museum, seeming to wipe out the very past that is being celebrated, since many of the family's memorabilia were in this place.

The New York Times - Books

"The whole timekeeping scale is very past directed, not future directed," Aveni told National Geographic in a 2009 interview.

BBC

"I just wanted to be here today to personally thank all of you and tell everyone out there how much all of your love and support has meant to me, over these very past difficult few weeks," she said.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Perhaps that very past-less-ness left me with a yen for roots, which I then found in the sole place available: American history.

Huffington Post

It has a very long past and history.

The New York Times

"He has a very dark past," Mr. Oropeza said.

The New York Times

In the very recent past, this was done badly.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Clearly, it had a very dark past, but they have done a lot to change that".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using "very past", consider more standard phrases like "distant past", "recent past", or "long ago" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using intensifiers like "very" directly before nouns indicating time periods. It's better to use adjectives that specifically describe the time frame, such as "recent" or "distant".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very past" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun, attempting to specify a particular period of time. However, this usage is non-standard and often results in grammatically awkward sentences. Ludwig indicates this is not typical usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "very past" is not standard English and is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is not typically used. While it appears in various online sources, including news media, its usage is inconsistent and can lead to awkward phrasing. It's recommended to use more precise and accepted alternatives such as "distant past", "recent past", or other similar phrases to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy. Avoiding "very past" will improve the overall quality and correctness of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

distant past

Emphasizes the remoteness of the past events.

recent past

Refers to events that happened not long ago.

far past

Indicates a time long ago, similar to "distant past".

bygone era

Refers to a period in the past that is over.

days gone by

Evokes a nostalgic sense of past times.

previous times

A more general way of referring to past occurrences.

former days

Similar to "days gone by" but slightly more formal.

historical period

Refers to a specific, defined time in the past.

past times

A simple and direct way to refer to events in the past.

olden days

Evokes a sense of a more distant and perhaps romanticized past.

FAQs

Is "very past" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "very past" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use alternatives such as "distant past" or "recent past".

What's a more appropriate alternative to "very past"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "distant past" to refer to something far back in time or "recent past" for something that happened not long ago.

How can I use "past" correctly in a sentence?

Use "past" with descriptive adjectives like "recent", "distant", or "turbulent" to add specificity. For example, "the recent past" or "a turbulent past".

What is the difference between "very past" and "distant past"?

While "very past" is not standard English, "distant past" is a correct phrase used to describe a time far back. Using "distant" provides a clearer and more grammatically accepted way to express the concept.