passer/pa.se/
verb · A2 · Frequency 115
verb
Meanings
to go past, to cross, to pass through (a place, border, etc.)
Refers to physically going past or crossing a place or border.
to spend (time, a period)
Refers to the passing or experiencing of time or a period.
to take, to sit (an exam or test)
Refers to the act of participating in an exam.
to pass (an exam or test)
Indicates successfully passing an exam.
to hand down, to pass on, to transmit (information, disease, objects, etc.)
Refers to transferring something or information from one party to another.
to show, to broadcast (a movie, TV program)
Refers to the screening or broadcasting of movies or TV shows.
to pass (a ball, a relay baton)
In sports, to transfer the ball or relay baton to a teammate.
to exceed (a limit, standard)
Indicates going beyond a limit or standard.
to shift (change gear up or down)
Refers to the action of changing gears in a vehicle.
to stop by, to pop in
Indicates a brief stop or visit along the way.
to pass away, to die
A euphemism for death.
to spin (e.g., a disk)
Refers to an object spinning.
to put, to place, to slip (move a part of one's body)
Refers to placing or moving a body part or object somewhere.
to wipe, to rub
Refers to cleaning a surface by rubbing or wiping.
to skip a turn, to pass (not play on one's turn)
In games, to forgo one's turn.
to take place, to happen, to come to pass
Refers to the occurrence of an event.
to go by, to pass (time)
The passage of time.
to do without, to forgo
Indicates foregoing the use of something.
to don, to put on (clothing)
Putting on clothes.
to be thought to be, to be said to be, to be taken for
Indicates something is considered or perceived as a certain state.
Examples
Nous devons passer par la porte arrière pour éviter les travaux.
We have to go through the back door to avoid the construction work.
Elle aimerait passer quelques jours à la campagne.
She would like to spend a few days in the countryside.
Les candidats vont passer un examen de français demain.
The candidates are going to take a French exam tomorrow.
Il espère passer son permis du premier coup.
He hopes to pass his driving test on the first attempt.
Collocations
- passer devant la maisonto pass in front of the house
- passer un examento take an exam
- passer une maladieto transmit a disease
Common mistakes
Je suis passé un examen.
J'ai passé un examen.
For the sense “to take an exam,” passer is transitive and takes avoir in the passé composé; être passé is not correct here.
Related words
synonymtraverserto cross, to go through
synonymdépasserto surpass, to go beyond
- antonymresterto stay, to remain
verb
Meanings
to go past, to cross, to pass through (a place, border, etc.)
Refers to physically going past or crossing a place or border.
to spend (time, a period)
Refers to the passing or experiencing of time or a period.
to take, to sit (an exam or test)
Refers to the act of participating in an exam.
to pass (an exam or test)
Indicates successfully passing an exam.
to hand down, to pass on, to transmit (information, disease, objects, etc.)
Refers to transferring something or information from one party to another.
to show, to broadcast (a movie, TV program)
Refers to the screening or broadcasting of movies or TV shows.
to pass (a ball, a relay baton)
In sports, to transfer the ball or relay baton to a teammate.
to exceed (a limit, standard)
Indicates going beyond a limit or standard.
to shift (change gear up or down)
Refers to the action of changing gears in a vehicle.
to stop by, to pop in
Indicates a brief stop or visit along the way.
to pass away, to die
A euphemism for death.
to spin (e.g., a disk)
Refers to an object spinning.
to put, to place, to slip (move a part of one's body)
Refers to placing or moving a body part or object somewhere.
to wipe, to rub
Refers to cleaning a surface by rubbing or wiping.
to skip a turn, to pass (not play on one's turn)
In games, to forgo one's turn.
to take place, to happen, to come to pass
Refers to the occurrence of an event.
to go by, to pass (time)
The passage of time.
to do without, to forgo
Indicates foregoing the use of something.
to don, to put on (clothing)
Putting on clothes.
to be thought to be, to be said to be, to be taken for
Indicates something is considered or perceived as a certain state.
Examples
Passant devant la mairie, elle a reconnu son ancien professeur.
Passing in front of the town hall, she recognized her former teacher.
Passant son examen demain, il révise encore ses notes ce soir.
Taking his exam tomorrow, he is still reviewing his notes tonight.
Passant le relais à sa coéquipière, la coureuse a accéléré sur les derniers mètres.
Passing the relay baton to her teammate, the runner sped up over the last few meters.
Le temps passant, les enfants se sont habitués à leur nouvelle école.
As time passed, the children got used to their new school.
verb
Meanings
to go past, to cross, to pass through (a place, border, etc.)
Refers to physically going past or crossing a place or border.
to spend (time, a period)
Refers to the passing or experiencing of time or a period.
to take, to sit (an exam or test)
Refers to the act of participating in an exam.
to pass (an exam or test)
Indicates successfully passing an exam.
to hand down, to pass on, to transmit (information, disease, objects, etc.)
Refers to transferring something or information from one party to another.
to show, to broadcast (a movie, TV program)
Refers to the screening or broadcasting of movies or TV shows.
to pass (a ball, a relay baton)
In sports, to transfer the ball or relay baton to a teammate.
to exceed (a limit, standard)
Indicates going beyond a limit or standard.
to shift (change gear up or down)
Refers to the action of changing gears in a vehicle.
to stop by, to pop in
Indicates a brief stop or visit along the way.
to pass away, to die
A euphemism for death.
to spin (e.g., a disk)
Refers to an object spinning.
to put, to place, to slip (move a part of one's body)
Refers to placing or moving a body part or object somewhere.
to wipe, to rub
Refers to cleaning a surface by rubbing or wiping.
to skip a turn, to pass (not play on one's turn)
In games, to forgo one's turn.
to take place, to happen, to come to pass
Refers to the occurrence of an event.
to go by, to pass (time)
The passage of time.
to do without, to forgo
Indicates foregoing the use of something.
to don, to put on (clothing)
Putting on clothes.
to be thought to be, to be said to be, to be taken for
Indicates something is considered or perceived as a certain state.
Examples
Le train est passé sous le vieux pont avant la tombée de la nuit.
The train went under the old bridge before nightfall.
Nous avons passé une semaine tranquille à la campagne.
We spent a quiet week in the countryside.
Elle a passé l'examen lundi matin.
She took the exam on Monday morning.
Il a passé son examen avec une excellente note.
He passed his exam with an excellent grade.
Collocations
- passer devant la maisonto pass in front of the house
- passer un examento take an exam
- passer une maladieto transmit a disease
Common mistakes
Je suis passé un examen.
J'ai passé un examen.
For the sense “to take an exam,” passer is transitive and takes avoir in the passé composé; être passé is not correct here.
Related words
synonymtraverserto cross, to go through
synonymdépasserto surpass, to go beyond
- antonymresterto stay, to remain
verb
Meanings
to go past, to cross, to pass through (a place, border, etc.)
Refers to physically going past or crossing a place or border.
to spend (time, a period)
Refers to the passing or experiencing of time or a period.
to take, to sit (an exam or test)
Refers to the act of participating in an exam.
to pass (an exam or test)
Indicates successfully passing an exam.
to hand down, to pass on, to transmit (information, disease, objects, etc.)
Refers to transferring something or information from one party to another.
to show, to broadcast (a movie, TV program)
Refers to the screening or broadcasting of movies or TV shows.
to pass (a ball, a relay baton)
In sports, to transfer the ball or relay baton to a teammate.
to exceed (a limit, standard)
Indicates going beyond a limit or standard.
to shift (change gear up or down)
Refers to the action of changing gears in a vehicle.
to stop by, to pop in
Indicates a brief stop or visit along the way.
to pass away, to die
A euphemism for death.
to spin (e.g., a disk)
Refers to an object spinning.
to put, to place, to slip (move a part of one's body)
Refers to placing or moving a body part or object somewhere.
to wipe, to rub
Refers to cleaning a surface by rubbing or wiping.
to skip a turn, to pass (not play on one's turn)
In games, to forgo one's turn.
to take place, to happen, to come to pass
Refers to the occurrence of an event.
to go by, to pass (time)
The passage of time.
to do without, to forgo
Indicates foregoing the use of something.
to don, to put on (clothing)
Putting on clothes.
to be thought to be, to be said to be, to be taken for
Indicates something is considered or perceived as a certain state.
Examples
Le train passe sous le tunnel avant la gare.
The train passes through the tunnel before the station.
Elle passe une semaine chez sa grand mère.
She spends a week at her grandmother's house.
Paul passe son examen de conduite lundi.
Paul takes his driving test on Monday.
Avec ces bonnes notes, elle passe en classe supérieure.
With these good grades, she moves up to the next grade.
verb
Meanings
to go past, to cross, to pass through (a place, border, etc.)
Refers to physically going past or crossing a place or border.
to spend (time, a period)
Refers to the passing or experiencing of time or a period.
to take, to sit (an exam or test)
Refers to the act of participating in an exam.
to pass (an exam or test)
Indicates successfully passing an exam.
to hand down, to pass on, to transmit (information, disease, objects, etc.)
Refers to transferring something or information from one party to another.
to show, to broadcast (a movie, TV program)
Refers to the screening or broadcasting of movies or TV shows.
to pass (a ball, a relay baton)
In sports, to transfer the ball or relay baton to a teammate.
to exceed (a limit, standard)
Indicates going beyond a limit or standard.
to shift (change gear up or down)
Refers to the action of changing gears in a vehicle.
to stop by, to pop in
Indicates a brief stop or visit along the way.
to pass away, to die
A euphemism for death.
to spin (e.g., a disk)
Refers to an object spinning.
to put, to place, to slip (move a part of one's body)
Refers to placing or moving a body part or object somewhere.
to wipe, to rub
Refers to cleaning a surface by rubbing or wiping.
to skip a turn, to pass (not play on one's turn)
In games, to forgo one's turn.
to take place, to happen, to come to pass
Refers to the occurrence of an event.
to go by, to pass (time)
The passage of time.
to do without, to forgo
Indicates foregoing the use of something.
to don, to put on (clothing)
Putting on clothes.
to be thought to be, to be said to be, to be taken for
Indicates something is considered or perceived as a certain state.
Examples
Tu passes devant la mairie en allant au marché.
You pass in front of the town hall on your way to the market.
Tu passes tout l'été chez tes grands-parents.
You spend the whole summer at your grandparents' house.
Tu passes ton examen de conduite demain matin.
You are taking your driving test tomorrow morning.
Tu passes facilement ce test grâce à ta préparation.
You pass this test easily thanks to your preparation.