Preterite vs. Past — What's the Difference?

The preterite or preterit (; abbreviated PRET or PRT) is a grammatical tense or verb form serving to denote events that took place or were completed in the past. In general, it combines the perfective aspect (event viewed as a single whole; it is not to be confused with the similarly named perfect) with the past tense, and may thus also be termed the perfective past.

The past is the set of all events that occurred before a given point in time. The past is contrasted with and defined by the present and the future.

Of, relating to, or being the verb tense that describes a past action or state.

No longer current; gone by; over

The verb form expressing or describing a past action or condition.

Having existed or occurred in an earlier time; bygone

A verb in the preterite form.

Earlier than the present time; ago

Showing an action at a determined moment in the past.

Just gone by or elapsed

Belonging wholly to the past; passed by.

Having served formerly in a given capacity, especially an official one

(grammar) A grammatical tense or verb form serving to denote events that took place or were completed in the past.

(Grammar) Of, relating to, or being a verb tense or form used to express an action or condition prior to the time it is expressed.

Same as Preterit.

The time before the present.

A term formerly used to refer to the simple past tense

Previous background, career, experiences, and activities

A former period of someone's life kept secret or thought to be shameful

The past tense.

A verb form in the past tense.

So as to pass by or go beyond

Beyond in time; later than or after

Beyond in position; farther than

Beyond the power, scope, extent, or influence of

Beyond in development or appropriateness

Beyond the number or amount of

The period of time that has already happened, in contrast to the present and the future.

(grammar) The past tense.

Having already happened; in the past; finished.

(postmodifier) Following expressions of time to indicate how long ago something happened; ago.

Of a period of time: having just gone by; previous.

(grammar) Of a tense, expressing action that has already happened or a previously-existing state.

In a direction that passes.

Beyond in place or quantity

No longer capable of.

Having recovered or moved on from (a traumatic experience, etc.).

Passing by, especially without stopping or being delayed.

(obsolete) pass

Of or pertaining to a former time or state; neither present nor future; gone by; elapsed; ended; spent; as, past troubles; past offences.

A former time or state; a state of things gone by.

Beyond, in position, or degree; further than; beyond the reach or influence of.

Beyond, in time; after; as, past the hour.

Above; exceeding; more than.

By; beyond; as, he ran past.

The time that has elapsed;

A earlier period in someone's life (especially one that they have reason to keep secret);

A verb tense that expresses actions or states in the past

Earlier than the present time; no longer current;

Of a person who has held and relinquished a position or office;

A verb tense or other construction referring to events or states that existed at some previous time;

So as to pass a given point;