What is the difference between using 以前 and 过了 when referring to the past?
As to my understanding, you must use "一个something" when using 过了 in reference to something in the past, but is it possible to attach 以前的 before something in the past so that it clarifies just as 过了 does?

Example:

你急不急的过了一个路口我们找到那个咖啡厅?
(Do you remember that street turn-off where we found that coffee shop?)

How do you use 以前 as a replacer for 过了 as a past-indicator....or can you? I've heard that 以前 can indicate a change has taken place since the past...but I'm not sure if that is something implied?

Question

What is the difference between using 以前 and 过了 when referring to the past?
As to my understanding, you must use "一个something" when using 过了 in reference to something in the past, but is it possible to attach 以前的 before something in the past so that it clarifies just as 过了 does?

Example:

你急不急的过了一个路口我们找到那个咖啡厅?
(Do you remember that street turn-off where we found that coffee shop?)

How do you use 以前 as a replacer for 过了 as a past-indicator....or can you?  I've heard that 以前 can indicate a change has taken place since the past...but I'm not sure if that is something implied?

Answer

以前usually used at the beginning of the sentence ,过了usually used in the middle or the end of the sentence.hah

Answer

以前usually used at the beginning of the sentence ,过了usually used in the middle or the end of the sentence    比如：以前，我经常走路去学校。   -你吃过饭了么？ -我已经吃过了。

Answer

你记不记的我们是在过了那个路口找到那个咖啡厅的?

Answer

As to my understanding, you must use "一个something" when using 过了 in reference to something in the past, but is it possible to attach 以前的 before something in the past so that it clarifies just as 过了 does?
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no, sth + 过了  which means past the position of sth, mainly, sth+过了 modifies the position, not time.

the only one case when 过了 modifies time is 过了很久，that BeckyGuo has metioned before.

过了很久+ sentence，which is talk about what is happened now.

以前的 and 过了， usually they used in different way.

Example:

你急不急的过了一个路口我们找到那个咖啡厅?
(Do you remember that street turn-off where we found that coffee shop?)

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here, there are some mistake in the sentence, we rewrite it firstly.

你急不急的过了一个路口我们找到那个咖啡厅? SHOULD BE 你记不记得(我们找到那个咖啡厅的)那个路口。

we don't put the subordinate clause after the sentence.

on the other hand, if you want to say at the corner, you can't use 过了，过了一个路口means past a intersection。

if you want to use 以前，  你记不记得以前我们找到那个咖啡厅的那个路口。this sentence means "Do you remember the street corner that we found out the coffee shop before"

How do you use 以前 as a replacer for 过了 as a past-indicator....or can you? I've heard that 以前 can indicate a change has taken place since the past...but I'm not sure if that is something implied?

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So actually, they can not directly replace.

Answer

There are few mistake in your chinese sentence 你 【记不记得】 过了一个路口我们找到那个咖啡厅?
It's more normal to translate the sentence to 你记不记得 我们找到那个咖啡厅的那个路口？
It's not neccessary to use 过了. Or you can say another word 之前
eg: 你记得（记不记得） 之前 我们找到那个咖啡厅的路口吗？
Using 之前 is more proper than 过了 in this sentence
1.You can use 过了 in sentences like that:
过了这个路口，是一家咖啡厅。
This word（过了）emphasize "pass by"
2.过了很久，我才出来。
Emphasizing "spend time "
Similar meaning when you use 之前 and 以前
以前 as your essay :Things had taken place since the past for a long time.
Howerer, I recommend you using 之前. It's easy to use this word and more proper in many sentences. Cause 之前 can describe things had happened for a long or short time.
Hope this help!