die Vergangenheit
Translation
past
Examples
Man sollte nicht in der Vergangenheit leben.
One shouldn't live in the past.
Er hat eine schwierige Vergangenheit.
He has a difficult past.
Grammar Patterns
in the past In the past, everything was different.
Similar Words
Synonyms: Früher; Antonyms: Zukunft, Gegenwart
Etymology
From 'vergehen' (to pass by). 'ver-' (away) + 'gehen' (to go) + '-heit' (noun suffix). Literally 'that which has gone by'.
Memory Tips
Think of 'ver-' + 'gangen' (past participle of 'gehen'). Something that has 'gone away' is in the past.