Imagine looking back at the past few months and realizing they seem to have disappeared in an instant. You might want to say, “Wow, time has ___ by!” But should the blank contain flew or flown?
This confusion is common because both words come from the irregular verb fly. The key is understanding which form of the verb belongs after has. (Similes Zone)
Quick Answer
“Time has flown by” is correct.
“Time has flown by” is incorrect in standard English.
| Expression | Correct? | Reason |
| Time has flown by. | ✅ Yes | Flown is the past participle of fly. |
| Time has flew by. | ❌ No | Flew is the simple past form. |
| Time flew by. | ✅ Yes | Flew works correctly in the simple past. |
The basic verb pattern is:
Fly → Flew → Flown
When has, have, or had comes before the verb, use flown, not flew. (Grammar Library)
Meaning and Definition
Meaning of “Time Has Flown By”
“Time has flown by” means that time has passed very quickly. The expression often shows surprise because a period seems to have ended or progressed faster than expected.
For example:
Time has flown by since we first met.
This means that a lot of time has passed since the meeting, but it feels as though it happened recently.
Definition of “Time Has Flown By”
Time has flown by is an idiomatic expression using the present perfect tense. It contains has as the auxiliary verb and flown as the past participle of fly.
It can describe the quick passage of time in everyday conversation, personal writing, professional communication, and reflective situations.
Meaning of “Time Has Flew By”
“Time has flew by” is intended to mean that time passed very quickly, but it is not grammatically correct in standard English.
The problem is the verb flew. Although flew is a past-tense form of fly, it is not the past participle required after has.
Definition of “Time Has Flew By”
There is no standard grammatical definition for “time has flew by” because it is an incorrect verb construction.
The correct version is:
Time has flown by.
Main Difference
The main difference is the verb form.
| Feature | Time has flew by | Time has flown by |
| Verb | Flew | Flown |
| Verb form | Simple past | Past participle |
| Used after “has” | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Standard English | ❌ Incorrect | ✅ Correct |
| Meaning intended | Time passed quickly | Time passed quickly |
The important point is that flew and flown are different forms of the same irregular verb. (Preply)
Which One Is Correct?
“Time has flown by” is the correct expression.
The reason is straightforward:
has + past participle = correct present perfect structure
The three main forms of fly are:
- fly — base form
- flew — simple past
- flown — past participle
Therefore:
- ✅ Time has flown by.
- ❌ Time has flew by.
- ✅ Time flew by.
You should not use flies directly after having.
Grammar and Usage
Fly is an irregular verb, so its past forms do not follow the regular -ed pattern.
Fly
Use fly as the base form.
Example:
Birds fly south in winter.
Flew
Use flew as the simple past form.
Example:
Time flew by during our vacation.
Here, the sentence describes a completed past experience.
Flown
Use flown as the past participle. It normally appears with an auxiliary verb such as has, have, or had.
Examples:
- Time has flown by.
- The years have flown by.
- The summer had flown by before we realized it.
The pattern is:
Fly → Flew → Flown
This distinction is the key to choosing the correct expression.
How to Use “Time Has Flown By”
Use “time has flown by” when you want to emphasize that time has passed quickly, particularly when the past period is connected to the present.
Talking About Recent Experiences
Time has flown by since we started this project.
Talking About Life Changes
Time has flown by since I moved to this city.
Talking About School or College
Time has flown by since my first day of college.
Talking About Relationships
I can’t believe it. Time has flown by since we first met.
Talking About Work
Time has flown by since I started my new job.
In each example, flown correctly uses the present perfect structure.
Examples
“Time Has Flown By”
- Time has flown by since we last spoke.
- I can’t believe how quickly time has flown by.
- Time has flown by since I started this job.
- The past few months have flown by.
- Time has really flown by this year.
- It feels like time has flown by since graduation.
- Time has flown by while we’ve been working on this project.
- I didn’t realize how much time had passed because it has flown by.
“Time Flew By”
Flew is also correct when used as the simple past form without has.
- Time flew by during our vacation.
- The weekend flew by.
- The afternoon flew by while we were talking.
- The school year flew by.
- The meeting flew by because everyone was engaged.
Notice the difference:
Time flew by. ✅
Time has flown by. ✅
Time has flown by. ❌
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using “Flew” After “Has”
❌ Time has flew by.
✅ Time has flown by.
This mistake happens because flew is the past form of fly. However, after has, you need the past participle flown.
Mistake 2: Thinking “Flew” and “Flown” Are Interchangeable
They are not interchangeable.
❌ She has flew to London.
✅ She has flown to London.
But:
✅ She flew to London yesterday.
The first sentence uses the present perfect, while the second uses the simple past.
Mistake 3: Using “Has Flown” With a Finished Past-Time Expression
The expression has flown is correct, but the tense must fit the time reference.
❌ Time has flown by yesterday.
✅ Time flew by yesterday.
Yesterday refers to a completed past time, so the simple past is normally appropriate.
Linguistic Insight
The confusion comes from the fact that fly is an irregular verb with two different past forms: flew and flown.
English learners often associate both forms with past time, but their grammatical functions are different.
Flew is the simple past form and can stand as the main verb:
The bird flew away.
Flown is the past participle and generally needs an auxiliary verb in constructions such as the present perfect:
The bird has flown away.
The same distinction applies to the expression “time has flown by.” The word has signals the need for the past participle flown, not the simple past flew.
Usage Tips
A simple memory trick can help:
Fly → Flew → Flown
Remember:
- Yesterday → flew
- Has/Have/Had → flown
For example:
- Time flew by yesterday.
- Time has flown by this year.
- The years have flown by.
- The summer had flown by before we noticed.
Another useful shortcut is:
Has flown ✅
Have flown ✅
Had flown ✅
Has flew ❌
Expert Suggestion
If you are unsure whether to use flew or flown, first look for an auxiliary verb.
If you see has, have, or had, choose flown:
Time has flown by.
If there is no auxiliary verb and you are describing a completed past event, flew may be correct:
Time flew by during the vacation.
For everyday and professional writing, this simple distinction will help you avoid one of the most common mistakes involving the verb fly.
Summary
The correct expression is “time has flown by.” The word flown is the past participle of fly, and it is required after has when forming the present perfect tense.
“Time has flown by” is incorrect in standard English because flew is the simple past form. However, “time flew by” is completely correct when you are using the simple past.
Remember the simple pattern: fly → flew → flown. Use flew for the simple past and flown after has, have, or had.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “time has flown by” grammatically correct?
No. “Time has flown by” is incorrect in standard English. Flew is the simple past form of fly, while flown is the past participle. Because it requires the past participle in this structure, the correct expression is “time has flown by.”
Is “time has flown by” correct?
Yes. “Time has flown by” is grammatically correct and natural English. It uses the present perfect structure that has + flown and means that time has passed very quickly. The expression is common in both everyday conversation and writing.
What is the difference between flew and flown?
Flew is the simple past form of fly, while flown is the past participle. Use flew in sentences such as “Time flew by yesterday.” Use flown after auxiliary verbs such as has, have, or had, as in “Time has flown by.”
Should I say “time flew by” or “time has flown by”?
Both are correct, but they are used in different grammatical situations. “Time flew by” uses the simple past and refers to a past event. “Time has flown by” uses the present perfect and connects a past period with the present.
Why is “time has flown by” wrong?
It is wrong because flew is the simple past form, not the past participle. Afterwards, English grammar requires the past participle flown. Therefore, the correct structure is flown, not has flown.
What does “time has flown by” mean?
“Time has flown by” means that time has passed very quickly. People often use it when they are surprised by how quickly a period has passed. For example, “Time has flown by since graduation” means the years since graduation seem to have passed very quickly.
Can I use “time has flown by” in formal writing?
Yes. “Time has flown by” is grammatically correct and can be used in both formal and informal writing. However, depending on the context, a more direct expression such as “time has passed quickly” may be preferable in highly objective or technical writing.
Is “time flew by” correct?
Yes. “Time flew by” is completely correct. Here, flew is the simple past form of fly. For example, “Time flew by during our vacation.” You should not add has before flew.
What is the past participle of “fly”?
The past participle of fly is flown. The three main forms are fly, flew, flown. For example: “Birds fly,” “The bird flew away,” and “The bird has flown away.”
How can I remember flew vs. flown?
Remember this simple pattern: fly → flew → flown. Use flew for the simple past, such as “Time flew by.” Use flown after has, have, or had, such as “Time has flown by.” The shortcut “has flown” can help you remember the correct form.
Can I say “time has flown by so fast”?
Yes. “Time has flown by so fast” is grammatically correct and natural. You can also say “Time has flown by so quickly.” Both versions express surprise or amazement that time has passed rapidly.
Is “time has flown by” ever correct?
No, not in standard English. Even though “time has flown by” is sometimes heard or written as a mistake, the standard form is “time has flown by.” If you want to use flew, remove has: “Time flew by.”
Which phrase should I use in an email?
Use “time has flown by” when you want to say that time has passed quickly. For example, you could write, “It is hard to believe how quickly time has flown by since we started working together.” This is natural, clear, and grammatically correct.
What is the easiest rule for “flew” and “flown”?
The easiest rule is: use flew as the simple past and flown after has, have, or had. So, “Time flew by” and “Time has flown by” are correct, while “Time has flew by” is incorrect.
Nauman Anwar is a passionate writer who enjoys making language simple, useful, and engaging. At Grammer Lord, he creates clear guides, creative examples, and practical ideas that help readers understand words and express themselves with confidence. His writing focuses on making English easier to learn while keeping every piece enjoyable and easy to follow. Nauman believes that good writing should be clear, natural, and memorable. Through his work, he aims to help students, writers, and everyday readers find the right words.
