in the past 是个过去时间状语“ 在过去” 得和一般过去式连用
In the past kitchen knives were made in a forge.
过去厨房用刀是在锻造厂打出来的
而如果“ in the past +时间段”,指的就是延续到现在的一段时间,这时得和现在完成时连用
In the past 10-odd years China has sped up urbanization.
10多年来,中国加快了城市化进程.