one month had passed vs one month has passed

Both of these phrases are correct; however, they're used in different contexts. 'One month had passed' is when narrating events in the past, while 'One month has passed' is used to indicate a completed action in the present. The choice between the two phrases depends on the tense and time frame of the narrative.

Explained by Miss E.
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: July 27, 2024

one month had passed

This phrase is correct when narrating events in the past.

This phrase is used when describing events that occurred in the past, indicating that one month had already passed at a specific point in time.

Examples:

One month had passed since they last saw each other.
By the time they arrived, one month had passed since the project started.

Show examples from the web [+]

One month had passed since the girl moved
Exactly one month passed with no word from her husband when her brother was dragged from his classroom by the general's secret police.
Only one month has passed since Hungarian extremists in fascist uniforms marched across the border into a peaceful Slovak town to the horror of local people.
In July 2010 six months had passed since the earthquake in Haiti that demolished a city and demoralised an already deflated government.
Four months had passed, but my parents still hadn't been able to put the pieces back together again.
Enough months had passed for me to think it wouldn't be that bad.
And what was really great is, I'm putting all this work together in the background, and Laura sent me a follow-up email because a good month had passed by.
The report points to the fact that 17 months had passed before the IASB appointed a new chairperson.
Five months had passed since I was outed as "A."
Unfortunately limits were imposed only after six months had passed, after massive import contracts had been signed, and after the goods had clogged up European ports.
Before we knew it, a month had passed.
Five months had passed since I was outed as "A."
However, without anyone asking, the Council of Ministers - presumably at the recommendation of the socialist political group - decided that it should nevertheless be tabled at this plenary, irrespective of whether or not a month had passed.
Now, in the meanwhile months had passed, maybe even years, our memories were vague, and our response was that we were unaware of a such nomination, and didn't have any need for a surveyor.
Information about machine types that have passed a test will be published here within one month after the date when each test was completed.
The proportion of a change in the market interest rate that is passed through within one month to bank lending rates is often found to be less than 50 %.
I thought my time had passed.
Decided to wait until the storm had passed.
Hundreds of thousands of people had passed through this camp.
He knew how many hands our tools had passed through.

Alternatives:

One month had gone by
One month had elapsed

one month has passed

This phrase is correct when indicating a completed action in the present.

This phrase is used to convey that one month has already been completed up to the present moment.