Years had passed vs years have passed

Both "years had passed" and "years have passed" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Years had passed" is used when referring to a past event or point in time, while "years have passed" is used to indicate a period of time that started in the past and continues up to the present.

Last updated: April 14, 2024 • 139 views

This phrase is correct when referring to a past event or point in time.

"Years had passed"

This phrase is used to indicate that a certain amount of time had gone by in the past. It is often used in storytelling or when recounting events that occurred in the past.

Examples:

Years had passed since they last saw each other.
By the time she returned, years had passed, and everything had changed.

Alternatives:

years elapsed
years went by
years had gone by
years had elapsed
years had transpired

This phrase is correct when indicating a period of time that started in the past and continues up to the present.

"years have passed"

This phrase is used to convey that a certain amount of time has gone by from a point in the past up to the present moment. It is commonly used in present perfect tense.

Examples:

Years have passed since we last visited that place.
It's hard to believe how quickly the years have passed.

Show examples from the web [+]

Dec 1, 2015 ... Should be "saying how many years have passed". Plural noun, plural verb. – RegDwigнt. Dec 1, 2015 at 10:42. Add a ...
Sep 17, 2022 ... He's simply not aging with the passage of time. So about who many years have passed since he left home with Pikachu, you think? 20 ...
Apr 17, 2018 ... Closed 5 years ago. How do I write that years have passed in a short story, but without stating it? I have been trying all sorts of ...
Mar 26, 2018 ... ... years have passed since the Eclipse/end of the Golden Age Arc. The reason for that is because in addition to the 2 years Guts spent ...
Two years have passed since I joined F2 Venture Capital Two years and millions of words written thousands of ideas brought to life hundreds of hands…
Sep 29, 2023 ... Over 20 years have passed, and I'm still loving my Momma out loud | Opinion ... As I have ...
15 likes, 1 comments - montel_williams on September 18, 2023: "76 years have passed since the @USAirForce was founded, and today I am joining ...
Mar 22, 2017 ... How many years have passed in the story? Ser Loras The Gay. By Ser ... How many years have passed in the story? IPS Theme by IPSFocus · Privacy ...
keidymoreno19 on June 6, 2023: "Twenty-three (23)years have passed, yet they feel like yesterday! #newheadshots @victoriasmit..."

Alternatives:

years have gone by
years have elapsed
years have transpired
years have flowed
years have rolled by

How TextRanch works

Fast and reliable proofreading, editing, and language advice tailored to your needs.

1. Choose Your Service

Quick Text Editing

Emails and short texts
Proofreading & editing
Ready in 5-10 minutes

SUBMIT YOUR TEXT NOW

Document Editing

Documents of any type (*.docx)
Advanced & Premium editing
Ready in as little as 4 hours

UPLOAD YOUR DOCUMENT

Ask an Editor

Personalized answers to your language questions
Expert guidance on grammar, style, and usage
Ready in 24 hours

ASK YOUR QUESTION

Upload your document or paste your text directly into our platform. Your text is reviewed and refined by our expert editors (real people, not machines) who understand the nuances of English. Expect corrections, improvements, and insightful suggestions that enhance the clarity, tone, and professionalism of your writing.

3. Receive Your Polished Text

In just a few minutes (or hours for longer documents), you'll receive your corrected text. Review the changes, make any final adjustments, and confidently share your polished English with the world.
You can count on a personalized, friendly service every time you use TextRanch. We're committed to helping you make a great impression with every word you write.

We proofread and edit these types of texts and documents:

Short texts Business Emails Personal Emails Social media posts Resume and Curriculum Vitae Business documents Sales proposal Research and academic papers Thesis Dissertation Essays Articles Blog posts and much more....

Why choose TextRanch?

Complete Privacy

Your texts are safe and secure with us. We never share your information with third parties.

Affordable Pricing

No subscription fees and rates up to 50% cheaper than other online editing services.

100% Satisfaction

We guarantee that you'll be satisfied with the quality of our service or your money back.

Top Customer Service

Our team is here to help you with any questions you may have. Contact us anytime.

Our Customers Love Us!

We have an average rating of 4.79 stars based on 283125 votes, and

4.9 Excellent - Reviews 2.137

"7 years without any disappointment. Always 100% satisfied. You guys are the best in the world at what you do. Thank you so much :)"

Zubair
from Bangladesh

"I wasn't aware of this service, it's fascinating and more reliable than standard IA tools available on the internet"

Arturo
from Mexico

"In a world of text messages and online communication, this is great to have as a live tool. Thank you."

Selena
from USA

"Wow, it's just so excellent. I never would have believed I could have a sure and excellent English companion. Thanks, TextRanch."

Ifiok
from Nigeria

"This is my first time using TextRanch, and I like how the editors take time to correct my text. To everyone who has never used TextRanch before, I highly recommend trying it."

Wilson
from France

"It is an amazing source of feedback because, as a non-native speaker, I really need to have a reliable helper correct my text."

Susan
from Germany

Years had passed vs years have passed

"Years had passed"

"years have passed"

2. Submit Your Text

3. Receive Your Polished Text