Time Has Flew By Or Time Has Flown By: What is the Difference & Which is Correct?

Many English learners wonder whether they should say “time has flew by” or “time has flown by.” These phrases look similar, but only one is grammatically correct in standard English. 

Understanding the difference helps you speak and write more naturally while avoiding a very common verb tense mistake.

Comparison Overview

Both “time has flew by” and “time has flown by” attempt to express the idea that time passed quickly. They come from the verb fly, but they use different verb forms. The key difference is that one follows correct English grammar while the other does not.

Phrase	Correct?	Reason
Time has flew by	❌ Incorrect	Uses the wrong past participle
Time has flown by	✅ Correct	Uses the correct past participle after “has”

Definition of Time Has Flew By

“Time has flew by” is an incorrect grammatical construction in modern English.

The word flew is the simple past tense form of the verb fly. While it works correctly in sentences such as “The bird flew away,” it should not be used after helping verbs like has, have, or had.

Example of incorrect usage:

• ❌ Time has flew by so quickly.
• ❌ The years have flew by.

Although native and non-native speakers occasionally make this mistake, it is not considered correct grammar.

Definition of Time Has Flown By

“Time has flown by” is the correct expression.

The word flown is the past participle of fly. English perfect tenses require a helping verb (has, have, or had) plus the past participle.

Example of correct usage:

• ✅ Time has flown by so quickly.
• ✅ The years have flown by.

This phrase means that time seems to have passed very fast.

Main Differences Between Time Has Flew By and Time Has Flown By

Verb Form

• Flew = simple past tense
• Flown = past participle

Grammar

• Has flew = grammatically incorrect
• Has flown = grammatically correct

Usage

• Time has flew by should be avoided in formal and informal writing.
• Time has flown by is accepted in all contexts.

Standard English

• Dictionaries and grammar guides recognize time has flown by.
• Time has flew by is considered a grammar error.

Why the Confusion Happens

The confusion occurs because English verbs often have multiple forms.

For the verb fly:

Verb Form	Example
Base Form	fly
Simple Past	flew
Past Participle	flown

Many learners mistakenly use the simple past form where the past participle is required.

Grammar Guide

How each term is used in sentences

Correct Pattern

Subject + has/have + flown + by

Examples:

• Time has flown by.
• The years have flown by.
• Summer has flown by quickly.

Incorrect Pattern

Subject + has/have + flew + by

Examples:

• ❌ Time has flew by.
• ❌ The months have flew by.

Common mistakes learners make

1. Using flew after has.
2. Using flew after have.
3. Forgetting the past participle form of irregular verbs.
4. Mixing simple past and present perfect tenses.
5. Assuming all past forms work after helping verbs.

Simple rules to remember

• After has, use flown, not flew.
• After have, use flown, not flew.
• After had, use flown, not flew.
• Think: has/have/had + past participle.

Easy memory trick:

Fly → Flew → Flown

If you see has, have, or had, choose flown.

Quick tips for writing and speaking

• Use time has flown by in conversations.
• Use time has flown by in essays and business writing.
• Check irregular verbs carefully.
• Remember that perfect tenses need a past participle.
• When unsure, think of similar verbs such as:
  • Write → Wrote → Written
  • Fly → Flew → Flown

When to Use Each One

Use “Time Has Flown By”

Use it when talking about a period of time that seems to have passed quickly.

Examples:

• Looking back on childhood.
• Discussing a school year.
• Reflecting on a project.
• Talking about a vacation.
• Describing the passing of months or years.

Use “Time Has Flew By”

You should not use this phrase in standard English because it is grammatically incorrect.

When NOT to Use Each One

Do Not Use “Time Has Flown By”

Avoid it if you are using a simple past structure.

Correct:

• Time flew by during the vacation.

Incorrect:

• Time has flown by yesterday.

Do Not Use “Time Has Flew By”

Avoid it in:

• Academic writing
• Business communication
• Professional emails
• Exams
• Formal presentations

It remains grammatically incorrect regardless of context.

Which One to Use (Decision Guide)

Ask yourself this question:

Am I using has, have, or had?

If yes:

• Use flown

Examples:

• Time has flown by.
• The years have flown by.
• The weeks had flown by before we noticed.

If you need the simple past tense:

• Use flew

Example:

• Time flew by during the meeting.

Never combine has with flew.

Real-World Practical Examples

Time Has Flew By Examples

The following examples demonstrate common mistakes:

1. ❌ In school, time has flown by this semester.
2. ❌ During the project, time has flown by quickly.
3. ❌ In business, the quarter has flown by.
4. ❌ In conversation, the weekend has flown by.
5. ❌ In technology, the year has flown by.

These examples are grammatically incorrect.

Time Has Flown By Examples

1. Education: Time has flown by during my final year at university.
2. Daily Life: Time has flown by since we moved into our new home.
3. Business: Time has flown by while working on this project.
4. Technology: Time has flown by since the app was launched.
5. Conversation: Wow, time has flown by since we last met.

Additional examples:

• Science: Time has flown by during the research study.
• Writing: Time has flown by while finishing this book.
• Travel: Time has flown by during our vacation.
• Sports: Time has flown by this season.
• Family: Time has flown by since the children were born.

Self-Assessment (Fill in the Blanks)

1. I will use ______ when referring to the present perfect tense.
2. The correct word is ______ because it follows “has.”
3. I will use ______ when discussing years that passed quickly.
4. The correct word is ______ because it is the past participle.
5. I will use ______ in the sentence “Time has ___ by.”
6. The correct word is ______ because perfect tenses require a participle.
7. I will use ______ after “have.”
8. The correct word is ______ because “flew” is simple past.
9. I will use ______ in formal writing.
10. The correct word is ______ because it is grammatically correct.
11. I will use ______ when speaking about a fast-moving year.
12. The correct word is ______ after “had.”
13. I will use ______ in professional emails.
14. The correct word is ______ because it follows grammar rules.
15. I will use ______ when reflecting on childhood.
16. The correct word is ______ because it completes the present perfect structure.
17. I will use ______ in academic essays.
18. The correct word is ______ because it is standard English.
19. I will use ______ when describing how quickly time passed.
20. The correct word is ______ because “has flew” is incorrect.

Answers

1. flown
2. flown
3. flown
4. flown
5. flown
6. flown
7. flown
8. flown
9. flown
10. flown
11. flown
12. flown
13. flown
14. flown
15. flown
16. flown
17. flown
18. flown
19. flown
20. flown

Conclusion:

When choosing between “time has flew by” and “time has flown by,” the correct expression is “time has flown by.” The difference comes down to the verb forms of fly. Flew is the simple past form, while flown is the past participle required after has, have, or had. Therefore, we say, “Time has flown by so quickly,” when describing how rapidly a period seems to have passed. This expression works naturally in conversations, essays, professional writing, and everyday situations. Remember the simple pattern fly → flew → flown to avoid this common mistake.

Although “time has flew by” may sound familiar because people sometimes use it incorrectly, it is not standard grammatical English. Once you understand this small but important distinction, choosing the right phrase becomes easy. Use “time has flown by” whenever you want to describe time passing quickly.

FAQs

Is “time has flew by” correct?

No, “time has flew by” is not grammatically correct in standard English. The correct expression is “time has flown by.” The verb flew is the simple past form of fly, while flown is the past participle. Because has requires a past participle, the correct construction is “has flown.”

Is “time has flown by” grammatically correct?

Yes, “time has flown by” is grammatically correct. It uses the present perfect structure has + past participle, with flown serving as the past participle of fly. The phrase means that time seems to have passed very quickly. It is natural and appropriate for everyday conversation, formal writing, and professional communication.

What is the difference between “flew” and “flown”?

Flew is the simple past form of fly, while flown is its past participle. For example, “The bird flew away” uses the simple past. However, “The bird has flown away” uses the present perfect tense. Remember: fly → flew → flown. This pattern helps you choose the correct form when using helping verbs such as has, have, and had.

Can I say “time flew by”?

Yes, “time flew by” is completely correct. It uses flew, the simple past form of fly, without a helping verb. For example, you can say, “Time flew by during our vacation.” The phrase describes an experience when time seemed to pass quickly and is common in everyday English.

Why is “time has flown by” correct?

“Time has flown by” is correct because has is followed by the past participle flown. English perfect tenses use a helping verb followed by a past participle. Since flown is the past participle of fly, the combination has flown follows the correct grammatical pattern.

Can I use “time has flown by” in formal writing?

Yes, “time has flown by” is suitable for formal writing as well as casual conversation. It is grammatically correct, natural, and widely understood. You can use it in essays, personal reflections, professional writing, articles, speeches, and emails whenever you want to express that a period of time has passed surprisingly quickly.

Is “time has flew by so fast” wrong?

Yes, “time has flew by so fast” is incorrect in standard English. The correct version is “time has flown by so fast.” The problem is the use of flew after has. Since has requires a past participle, flown must be used. You can also say, “Time has flown by so quickly.”

What tense is “time has flown by”?

“Time has flown by” uses the present perfect tense. The structure is has + flown, where has is the helping verb and flown is the past participle of fly. The present perfect connects a past event or process with the present, making it appropriate for describing a period that has passed up to now.

What is the correct phrase: “time has flew” or “time has flown”?

The correct phrase is “time has flown.” The verb fly has three important forms: fly for the base form, flew for the simple past, and flown for the past participle. Because has is used with a past participle, “time has flown” is the grammatically correct choice.

How can I remember “time has flown by”?

An easy way to remember it is to memorize the three forms of the irregular verb fly: fly, flew, flown. If the sentence contains has, have, or had, choose flown. Therefore, “time has flown by” is correct, while “time has flew by” is not standard English.