2007-03-02 10:15:54 · 9 answers · asked by Ron. B 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
You will have some disagreement on this, even among seasoned English teachers.
In the sentence "I can't get past", the word indicates position. The main verb is "get past", not, as many people might assume, just "get". So the word "past" is a preposition (or adverb particle) which forms part of what most English teachers call phrasal verbs. (Other examples are "get up to" and "get ready")
In the second phrase, the word is a noun (following a preposition) and indicates time. You know it's a noun if it follows an article (a/an/the) or can be used as the subject or object of a verb. (eg: the past is over. I hate the past).
As a whole, the phrase can be called a time phrase or an adverbial phrase.
2007-03-04 01:51:32 · answer #1 · answered by Stealthbong 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I cant get past - could be used in a quote like -
You are 2nd in a race and "cant get past" the leader
In the past, refers to a time gone by.
2007-03-03 07:55:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"I can't get past" means something is stopping you:
Example: "I can't get past because there is a huge box in the way."
"In the past" would be something which has already happened
past - already happened/history,
present - happening now,
future - yet to happen,
like:
"In the past I used to work in an office, but now I work with children."
2007-03-03 10:20:36 · answer #3 · answered by crackpot_insomniac 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
'I can't get past' is to do with a physical act of motion, or lack of it - i.e. you're describing something you are trying to do.
'in the past' is describing an event that has happened and doesn't have anything to do with motion.
One is motion the other is time, another one of the beautiful double uses that exist in the english language
2007-03-02 10:22:06 · answer #4 · answered by jefferytaylor_uk 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can't get past = I can't get over it, I can't forget about it
In the past = it happened before this present moment
2007-03-02 10:19:37 · answer #5 · answered by crzywriter 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the first example, "past" is a preposition. In the second example, it is used as a noun.
2007-03-02 10:25:57 · answer #6 · answered by Jellicoe 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Did you mean...I can't get PASS in the past?
2007-03-02 10:28:34 · answer #7 · answered by Afi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first should be;
I can't get passed.
passed.....To move on or ahead; proceed.
The second means:
past.....gone by or elapsed in time.
2007-03-02 11:00:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
'i can't get past' ......... the route is blocked.
'in the past' .............. in history.
2007-03-02 10:28:08 · answer #9 · answered by john 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋