"in the past year" 通常用于完成时态（present perfect tense）和过去完成时态（past perfect tense），用来描述从过去某个时间点开始直到现在或直到另一个过去的时间点的行动或状态。
另外，在口语中， "in the past year" 也可以用于简单过去时（simple past tense），表示在过去的一年里发生的事情。
具体用法举例：
Present Perfect Tense: I have read 10 books in the past year. (我在过去一年里读了10本书)
Past Perfect Tense: By January 1st, I had traveled to three different countries in the past year. (到1月1日，我在过去一年里去了三个不同的国家)
Simple Past Tense: In the past year, I started a new job and moved to a new city. (在过去一年里，我开始了一份新工作并搬到了一个新城市)
in the past year的时态用法是英语考试的一个考点，那么你知道in the past year用于什么时态吗?下面是我为你整理的in the past year的时态，希望大家喜欢!
in the past year的时态
in the past years
在过去的几年，用于现在完成时态，表示过去到现在的一段时间。
in the last year和in the past few years的区别
in the last year在过去的一年中 只用过去时态 很明确的指出时间状态是去年;有时我们也可以直接说last year。
in the past few years是 在过去的几年当中，如果语境中发生的动作能延续到现在，对现在有影响，是可以用完成时的。
in the past years的例句
1. A dozen inmates have absconded from Forest Jail in the past year.
去年共有12名犯人从福雷斯特监狱逃脱。
2. The cost of living had been racing up in the past year.
去年生活费用一直急剧上升.
3. The shares have plummeted from 130p to 2.25p in the past year.
在过去的一年里，股票已从130便士暴跌到2.25便士。
4. Real incomes have gone up by 10 % in the past year.
去年实际收入提高了10%.
5. Peter has really sprouted up in the past year.
彼得过去这一年长高了.
6. There have been scores of kidnappings by political extremists in the past year.
去年就有政治上极端分子所作的很多起绑架案.
7. The number of adoptions has grown in the past year.
去年,收养子女的数字增加了.
8. John has really sprouted up in the past year.
约翰在过去的一年里确实开始长身体了.
9. The shift to coal has been evident in the past year.
去年,燃料转向煤炭的趋势已较为明显.
10. Under pressure from Brussels, however, matters have improved in the past year.
但是由于欧委会的压力, 这些情况已于去年得到改善.