Get Past vs. Get Passed – Which is Correct?

“Get past” is a phrasal verb meaning to move beyond an obstacle, overcome a difficulty, or recover from an experience. “Get passed” involves the past participle of “to pass,” typically meaning to be overtaken, to receive something, or to complete a test successfully. Both are grammatically correct, but their usage depends entirely on the intended meaning.

Get Past or Get Passed – Which is Correct?

The confusion between “get past” and “get passed” stems from their similar pronunciation but distinct grammatical roles and meanings. Get past is a phrasal verb where “past” functions as an adverb or preposition, indicating movement beyond a point, overcoming an obstacle, or recovering from an event. In contrast, get passed uses “passed” as the past participle of the verb “to pass,” typically appearing in a passive construction. This means the subject is receiving the action of being passed, whether it’s being overtaken, receiving an item, or having a law or test successfully completed.

This fundamental distinction is crucial for clear communication, a topic further explored in Passed vs. Past.

The Best Trick to Remember the Difference

A powerful trick to remember the difference is to consider the “ed” ending. If you mean that something has been completed, received, or that someone has been overtaken, you need the past participle passed, which often ends in “ed.” Think of it as an action that has been done to the subject. If you can replace the word with another past tense verb (e.g., “got overtaken,” “got approved”), then passed is likely correct. If you mean “beyond” or “to overcome,” and “past” acts as a directional word or a means of overcoming something, then use past, which lacks the “ed” ending.

Word	Part of Speech	Meaning	Example
Get Past	Phrasal Verb	To move beyond, overcome, recover from	She needs to get past her fear of public speaking.
Get Passed	Verb Phrase (passive)	To be overtaken, to receive, to complete successfully	I hope the new bill will get passed by Congress.

How to Use Get Past

The phrasal verb “get past” implies movement, progression, or overcoming. It is frequently used in both informal and formal contexts to describe:

• Physical movement: To move beyond a physical barrier or location.
• Overcoming an obstacle: To successfully deal with a problem, difficulty, or challenge.
• Emotional or mental recovery: To recover from a negative experience, feeling, or state of mind.

Example 1: The rescue team struggled to get past the fallen trees on the road.

Example 2: It took her a long time to get past the initial shock of the news.

Example 3: We need to get past our differences if we want to work together effectively.

What are the different forms of Get Past?

In “get past,” the verb “get” conjugates, while “past” remains constant as an adverb or preposition. The forms reflect the tenses of “get”:

• Present Simple: I/You/We/They get past, He/She/It gets past
• Past Simple: I/You/He/She/It/We/They got past
• Future Simple: I/You/He/She/It/We/They will get past
• Present Participle: getting past (e.g., “He is getting past his fear.”)
• Past Participle: gotten past (American English) or got past (British English) (e.g., “She has gotten past her stage fright.”)

Etymology of the word Get Past

The verb “get” originates from Old Norse geta, meaning “to obtain, reach, get.” The word “past” comes from the Old French passer, meaning “to step, go, pass,” which itself derives from Latin passus, meaning “a step.” The combination “get past” emerged as a phrasal verb, a common development in English where a verb combines with a preposition or adverb to create a new idiomatic meaning, emphasizing the action of moving beyond or overcoming.

How to Use Get Passed

The phrase “get passed” utilizes “passed” as the past participle of the verb “to pass,” and it is typically used in a passive construction. This means the subject of the sentence is the one experiencing the action of “passing.” Common uses include:

• Being overtaken: When someone or something moves ahead of you.
• Receiving something: To have an item or message given to you.
• Successful completion/approval: When a test, law, or proposal is approved or completed.

Example 1: The slower car will inevitably get passed on the highway.

Example 2: Many students worry they won’t get passed the challenging final exam.

Example 3: The new zoning regulation is expected to get passed by the city council next week.

What are the different forms of Get Passed?

Similar to “get past,” the verb “get” conjugates to reflect tense, while “passed” remains in its past participle form. This construction is a passive voice where “get” acts as a linking verb followed by a past participle.

• Present Simple: I/You/We/They get passed, He/She/It gets passed
• Past Simple: I/You/He/She/It/We/They got passed
• Future Simple: I/You/He/She/It/We/They will get passed
• Present Participle: getting passed (e.g., “The runner is getting passed by his rival.”)
• Past Participle: gotten passed (American English) or got passed (British English) (e.g., “The baton has gotten passed to the next runner.”)

Etymology of the word Get Passed

The verb “get” has the same Old Norse origins (geta) as discussed for “get past.” “Passed” is the past participle of “pass,” which also stems from Old French passer. The construction “get + past participle” is a common alternative to “be + past participle” for forming the passive voice in English. It often emphasizes the result or the recipient of the action, rather than simply stating the action itself. This usage became more prominent over time, offering a slightly different nuance to the standard passive voice.

Related Concepts

Understanding these broader grammatical concepts can help clarify the distinction between “get past” and “get passed” and improve overall writing precision.

• Phrasal Verbs: These are combinations of a verb and a preposition or adverb that create a new meaning distinct from the individual words (e.g., “get past,” “look up,” “break down”). Recognizing them as single units of meaning is key.
• Past Participles: This form of a verb, often ending in -ed, -en, -t, or -n (e.g., “passed,” “broken,” “built,” “seen”), is used to form perfect tenses, the passive voice, or as an adjective. In “get passed,” “passed” functions as part of the passive voice construction.
• Parts of Speech: Differentiating between “past” as an adverb or preposition (indicating direction or position) and “passed” as a verb form (indicating an action completed or received) is fundamental to correct usage.

Examples from Media and Literature

• “Sometimes you just have to learn to get past it and move on.” (Common idiom)
• “The protagonist struggled to get past his initial prejudices against the stranger.” (Literary analysis)
• “The new policy is unlikely to get passed without significant amendments.” (News report)
• “He was a fast runner, but he still managed to get passed by the leading athlete in the final stretch.” (Sports commentary)
• “It’s a difficult chapter in history, but we must get past the pain to understand its lessons.” (Historical commentary)

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.

1. She found it difficult to _______ her shyness. (get past / get passed)
2. The new legislation is expected to _______ by the end of the month. (get past / get passed)
3. You need to _______ this roadblock to reach your destination. (get past / get passed)
4. He was disappointed when his ideas didn’t _______ at the meeting. (get past / get passed)
5. It’s hard to _______ a bad reputation once it’s established. (get past / get passed)

Answer Key

1. get past
2. get passed
3. get past
4. get passed
5. get past

Get Past Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Overcome	Successfully deal with a problem or difficulty.
Surmount	Overcome (a difficulty or obstacle).
Recover from	Return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength.
Move beyond	To progress past a certain point or state.
Cope with	To deal effectively with something difficult.

Get Passed Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Be approved	To be officially agreed to or accepted.
Be enacted	(Of a bill or proposal) become law.
Be transmitted	To be transferred or communicated.
Be overtaken	To catch up with and move ahead of.
Be delivered	To be brought to a recipient.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: What is the main difference between “get past” and “get passed”?
“Get past” is a phrasal verb meaning to overcome, move beyond, or recover from. “Get passed” uses the past participle “passed” and typically means to be overtaken, to receive something, or to complete an action successfully (e.g., an exam or a law).

Question 2: Can “get passed” ever be used in an active sense?
No, “get passed” is inherently passive. The subject is receiving the action of being passed. For an active sense, you would simply use “pass” (e.g., “The car passed me” instead of “I got passed by the car”).

Question 3: Is “past” always a preposition or adverb in this context?
In the phrasal verb “get past,” “past” functions as an adverb or preposition, indicating direction or completion of an action beyond a point. While “past” can be a noun or adjective in other contexts, within “get past,” its role is specific to modifying the verb “get.”

Conclusion

Distinguishing between “get past” and “get passed” is a common challenge in English, yet crucial for clear and precise communication. Remember that “get past” implies overcoming, moving beyond, or recovering, with “past” acting as a directional word. Conversely, “get passed” signifies being overtaken, receiving, or successfully completing something, with “passed” functioning as a verb’s past participle in a passive construction. By understanding these distinct grammatical roles and meanings, you can confidently choose the correct phrase.

Pro Tip: When in doubt, perform the “ed” test. If the meaning involves an action done to the subject, where “passed” acts like a verb ending in -ed, then “get passed” is almost always the correct choice. Misusing these terms can lead to misinterpretation and diminish the clarity and professionalism of your writing.