in the past用於一般過去時。

in the past的意思是“在過去”，所連用的時態有以下幾點值得注意：1、 如果是用作時間狀語，可連用一般過去時或現在完成時。

兩者的區別是：用一般過去時，客觀地敘述過去的情況；用現在完成時，強調持續到現在的狀態或對現在影響。如：In the past he had to read by candlelight. 過去他只得在燭光下攻讀。I’ve been there many times in the past. 我從前去過那兒很多次。2、 如果是用於名詞後作定語，句子時態可根據情況選用。如：He could remember events far back in the past. 他能記得很早以前的事情。He will never forget his miserable childhood in the past. 他永遠也忘不了自己過去的悲慘的童年。

擴充套件資料：

英語共有十六種時態，其表現形式如下(以study為例)：

一般時 進行時 完成時 完成進行時

現在 study be studying have studied have been studying

過去 studied be studying had studied had been studying

將來 will study wil be studying will have studied will have been studying

過去將來would study would be studying would have studied would have been studying

時態（Tense）是表示行為、動作和狀態在各種時間條件下的動詞形式。因此，當我們說時態結構的時候，指的是相應時態下的動詞形式。