Time Has Flew By Or Time Has Flown By: Difference & Correction?

“Time has flew by” and “time has flown by” look very similar, but only one is grammatically correct in standard English. The confusion comes from the irregular verb fly, whose past tense and past participle are different. Understanding this small grammar distinction will help you write and speak naturally when describing how quickly time has passed.

Comparison Overview

The two expressions being compared are:

• Time has flew by
• Time has flown by

Both expressions are intended to communicate the same basic idea: time has passed very quickly. However, they use different forms of the irregular verb fly.

The key difference is grammatical:

Expression	Verb form	Correct?	Example
Time has flew by	flew = simple past	No	Time has flown by so quickly.
Time has flown by	flown = past participle	Yes	Time has flown by so quickly.

The correct expression is “time has flown by.”

Why? Because has is a helping verb that requires the past participle form of the main verb. The forms of fly are:

fly → flew → flown

Therefore:

Time has + flown + by

is grammatically correct.

Definition of “Time Has Flew By”

“Time has flew by” is an incorrect standard-English construction.

The intended meaning is that time has passed quickly, but flew is the simple past form of fly, not its past participle.

For example:

Time has flown by so quickly.

The problem is not the meaning. The problem is the verb form.

The verb flew is correctly used when fly is in the simple past:

The bird flew over the house.

She flew to London last week.

But when fly follows has, have, or had, you need flown:

Time has flown by.

The bird has flown away.

They had flown home before the storm arrived.

What “Flew” Means

Flew is the simple past tense of fly.

The basic pattern is:

Subject + flew + …

Examples:

• The plane flew over the city.
• She flew home yesterday.
• The bird flew away.
• We flew to Paris last summer.

It should not normally be used after has, have, or had.

Definition of “Time Has Flown By”

“Time has flown by” is the standard and grammatically correct expression.

It means that time has passed very quickly.

For example:

Time has flown by since we started this project.

Here, has is the auxiliary verb and flown is the past participle of fly.

The expression is often used when someone is surprised by how quickly a period of time seems to have passed.

Examples include:

• Time has flown by this year.
• Time has flown by since graduation.
• I can’t believe how quickly time has flown by.
• Time has really flown by since we moved here.
• It feels like yesterday, but time has flown by.

What “Flown” Means

Flown is the past participle of fly.

The three principal forms are:

fly → flew → flown

Form	Grammatical role	Example
fly	Base form	Birds fly.
flew	Simple past	The bird flew away.
flown	Past participle	The bird has flown away.

In “time has flown by,” the word flown is required because it follows has.

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

The expressions differ mainly in verb form and grammatical structure, rather than meaning.

1. Verb Form

Flew is the simple past form.

Flown is the past participle.

Therefore:

Time has flew by.

Time has flown by.

2. Auxiliary Verb

The word has creates a present perfect construction.

The present perfect uses:

has/have + past participle

Since flown is the past participle, it fits the structure.

has + flown

But flew is simple past, so it does not fit.

3. Meaning

Both expressions are normally intended to mean:

Time has passed quickly.

The difference is therefore not primarily semantic. “Time has flew by” is grammatically incorrect, while “time has flown by” is correct.

4. Standard English Usage

In standard written and spoken English:

• Time has flown by → correct
• Time has flew by → incorrect

You may occasionally encounter “has flew” in informal speech, dialect, song lyrics, or learner English, but it is not the standard form to use in formal or edited English.

Why Do People Say “Time Has Flew By”?

The confusion is understandable because flew is genuinely a correct form of fly.

For example:

The airplane flew across the country.

So learners may remember:

fly → flew

and then produce:

time has flown by

However, English irregular verbs often have different forms for the simple past and past participle.

Compare:

• go → went → gone
• see → saw → seen
• write → wrote → written
• take → took → taken
• fly → flew → flown

The important thing to remember is that “has” changes which verb form you need.

Is “Time Has Flown By” an Idiom?

Yes. “Time has flown by” is a common figurative expression.

It does not literally mean that time has wings or physically flown through the air. Instead, fly is being used metaphorically to describe time passing very quickly.

For example:

I can’t believe the semester is already over. Time has flown by!

The speaker means that the semester seemed to pass unusually quickly.

Similar expressions include:

• Time has gone by quickly.
• Time has passed so quickly.
• The years have flown by.
• Where has the time gone?
• Time flies!

“Time Flies” vs. “Time Has Flown By”

These expressions are related but use different grammatical structures.

Time Flies

“Time flies” is a present-tense expression.

Time flies when you’re having fun.

Here:

• time = subject
• flies = present-tense verb

Time Has Flown By

“Time has flown by” is present perfect.

Time has flown by since we graduated.

Here:

• time = subject
• has = auxiliary verb
• flown = past participle
• by = particle/preposition forming the expression

So you should not substitute flew for flown.

Grammar Guide

The central grammar rule is simple:

After has, have, or had, use the past participle—not the simple past form.

For fly:

fly → flew → flown

Therefore:

• I fly to work sometimes.
• I flew to work yesterday.
• I have flown there many times.

The same pattern applies to time:

• Time flies when you’re having fun.
• Time flew by during the holiday.
• Time has flown by since the holiday began.

How Each Term Is Used in Sentences

“Flew” Pattern

Use flew for the simple past.

Subject + flew + …

Examples:

The plane flew over the mountains.

We flew home on Monday.

The bird flew away.

When describing time:

Time flew by during the vacation.

Notice that there is no has before flew.

“Flown” Pattern

Use flown with an auxiliary verb such as has, have, or had.

Subject + has/have/had + flown + …

Examples:

Time has flown by.

The years have flown by.

The plane had flown over the mountains.

Thus:

Time has flew by.

Time has flown by.

Common Mistakes Learners Make

Mistake 1: Using “Flew” After “Has”

Time has flew by.

Correct:

Time has flown by.

Mistake 2: Thinking “Flew” Is Always the Past Form

“Flew” is a past form, but it is specifically the simple past form.

The past participle is flown.

Mistake 3: Forgetting the Three Verb Forms

Memorizing only:

fly → flew

can cause mistakes.

Instead, memorize:

fly → flew → flown

Mistake 4: Using “Flown” for Simple Past

The opposite mistake also occurs:

The plane flew over the city yesterday.

Correct:

The plane flew over the city yesterday.

The word yesterday indicates a completed past event, so the simple past flew is appropriate.

Simple Rules to Remember

Use this three-part rule:

Fly = now/base form

Flew = simple past

Flown = past participle

Then remember:

has/have/had + flown

Examples:

• has flown
• have flown
• had flown

And:

flew can stand alone as the simple past.

Examples:

• He flew.
• She flew home.
• The plane flew away.

Quick Tips for Writing and Speaking

Tip 1: If you see has, choose flown.

has flown 

Tip 2: If you see yesterday, last week, or another finished past-time reference, flew may be appropriate.

The plane flew yesterday. 

Tip 3: Memorize the three forms together:

fly – flew – flown

Tip 4: For the common expression about time, simply remember:

Time has flown by.

Tip 5: In formal writing, avoid “time has flew by.”

When to Use Each One

When to Use “Time Has Flown By”

Use “time has flown by” when you are talking about a period that began in the past and has progressed up to the present.

Examples:

Time has flown by since I started university.

Time has flown by since we opened the company.

The past ten years have flown by.

It is particularly natural when expressing surprise, nostalgia, or reflection.

When to Use “Time Flew By”

Although your comparison focuses on “time has flown by”, there is a closely related correct expression:

Time flew by.

This is simple past.

For example:

Time flew by during our vacation.

The afternoon flew by while we were talking.

Here, flew is correct because there is no has.

When NOT to Use “Time Has Flew By”

Do not use “time has flew by” in standard English.

Instead, use:

Time has flown by.

If you want simple past, remove has:

Time flew by.

So:

Time has flew by.

Time has flown by.

Time flew by.

When NOT to Use Each One

Don’t Use “Flew” After “Has”

The structure:

has + flew

is incorrect in standard English.

Use:

has + flown

Don’t Use “Flown” as Simple Past

If there is no auxiliary verb and you’re describing a completed past event, use flew.

The plane flew to Madrid yesterday.

The plane flew to Madrid yesterday.

Don’t Confuse “Time Flies” With “Time Has Flown”

Both are correct, but they have different structures.

Time flies. — general statement

Time has flown by. — reflection on time that has passed

Which One to Use: Decision Guide

Use this quick guide:

What are you trying to say?	Correct choice
A general truth about time	Time flies
Time passed quickly during a completed past event	Time flew by
Time has passed quickly up to now	Time has flown by
Time had passed quickly before another past event	Time had flown by
“Time has flew by”	Avoid it

The Fastest Decision Rule

Ask yourself:

Is “has” immediately before the verb?

If yes:

has + flown

Therefore:

Time has flown by. 

If you’re simply talking about a completed past period:

Time flew by. 

Real-World Practical Examples

“Time Has Flew By” Examples

Because “time has flew by” is incorrect, these examples demonstrate the construction learners should avoid and the correct replacement.

1. Daily conversation
   Time has flew by since we last met.
   Time has flown by since we last met.
2. Education
   Time has flown by since my first day at university.
   Time has flown by since my first day at university.
3. Business
   Time has flown by since we launched the company.
   Time has flown by since we launched the company.
4. Writing
   Time has flown by, and the manuscript is finally complete.
   Time has flown by, and the manuscript is finally complete.
5. Technology
   Time has flown by since I bought my first smartphone.
   Time has flown by since I bought my first smartphone.

The repeated correction demonstrates the central rule: after “has,” use “flown,” not “flew.”

“Time Has Flown By” Examples

1. Daily Life
   Time has flown by since we moved into this house.
2. Education
   Time has flown by since my first day of college.
3. Business
   Time has flown by since we started our business five years ago.
4. Conversation
   I can’t believe it’s already December. Time has flown by!
5. Writing
   Looking back over the past decade, I realize how quickly time has flown by.
6. Technology
   Time has flown by since smartphones became part of everyday life.
7. Family
   The children have grown so much; time has really flown by.
8. Travel
   Our two-week vacation has flown by.
9. Science
   Although the experiment lasted several hours, time seemed to have flown by for the researchers.
10. Work

The entire workday has flown by.

Self-Assessment: Fill in the Blanks

Complete each sentence with the correct form: flew or flown.

1. I can’t believe how quickly ______ time has passed since graduation.
2. Time has ______ by since we first met.
3. The airplane ______ over the mountains yesterday.
4. The years have ______ by remarkably quickly.
5. Time ______ by during our summer vacation.
6. She has ______ to three different countries this year.
7. The bird ______ away when it heard the noise.
8. Time has ______ by since the company was founded.
9. We ______ home after the conference ended.
10. The last five years have ______ by.
11. I feel as though time has ______ by this morning.
12. The plane ______ across the Atlantic last night.
13. Time ______ by while we were playing games.
14. Many years have ______ by since that memorable day.
15. He has ______ on several international business trips.
16. The children watched as the bird ______ over the lake.
17. Time has ______ by since I started learning English.
18. The vacation ______ by much faster than expected.
19. She has ______ several times for work.
20. Choose the correct sentence: “Time has ______ by.”

Answers

1. flown: It follows has.
2. flown: The present perfect requires the past participle.
3. flew: This is simple past.
4. flown: Have + flown is the present perfect structure.
5. flew: This describes a completed past period.
6. flown: Has + flown is correct.
7. flew: This is a simple past event.
8. flown: Has + flown is required.
9. flew: The verb is simple past.
10. flown: Have + flown is correct.
11. flown: Has + flown is the correct combination.
12. flew: This describes a completed event in the past.
13. flew: Simple past is appropriate.
14. flown: Have + flown forms the present perfect.
15. flown: Has + flown is correct.
16. flew: This is simple past.
17. flown: Has + flown requires the past participle.
18. flew: The completed past event takes the simple past.
19. flown: Has + flown is correct.
20. flown: The correct expression is “Time has flown by.”

Final Verdict

The correct expression is:

Time has flown by. 

“Time has flew by” is incorrect in standard English because flew is the simple past form of fly, while flown is the past participle.

Remember the three forms:

fly → flew → flown

Use flew for the simple past:

Time flew by during the vacation.

Use flown after has, have, or had:

Time has flown by since we graduated.

So, whenever you want to say that time has passed quickly and your sentence contains “has,” the reliable choice is “Time has flown by.”

Below is a polished conclusion, followed by concise FAQs designed to reinforce the main grammar distinction and capture common search questions.

Conclusion

When choosing between “Time Has Flew By Or Time Has Flown By,” the correct expression in standard English is “time has flown by.” The reason is simple: flew is the simple past form of the verb fly, while flown is the past participle. Because has requires a past participle, we say, “Time has flown by.”

If you are talking about a completed event in the past, however, “time flew by” is perfectly correct. For example, “Time flew by during our vacation.” Remembering the pattern fly, flew, flown makes this distinction much easier. Whether you are writing an email, completing an assignment, chatting with friends, or creating polished content, using “time has flown by” will keep your English natural and grammatically accurate.

FAQs