Inklingo

How to Say "to pass" in Spanish

English → Spanish

pasar

/pa-sar//paˈsaɾ/

verbA1general
Use 'pasar' when talking about time moving forward, an object moving past a point or person, or when handing something to someone.
A small, brightly colored car driving across a simple wooden bridge over a small stream.

Examples

El tiempo pasa muy rápido cuando te diviertes.

Time passes very quickly when you're having fun.

Vimos pasar un tren por la ventana.

We saw a train pass by the window.

Para ir al banco, tienes que pasar el puente.

To get to the bank, you have to cross the bridge.

¿Me puedes pasar la sal, por favor?

Can you pass me the salt, please?

Who are you passing it to?

This use of 'pasar' almost always comes with a little word like 'me', 'te', 'le' to show who is receiving the item. 'Pása-me' literally means 'Pass-to-me'.

pasar

/pa-sar//paˈsaɾ/

verbB1general
Use 'pasar' when you successfully complete an exam, a course, or advance to the next level in a game or activity.
A small, brightly colored car driving across a simple wooden bridge over a small stream.

Examples

Si estudias mucho, vas a pasar el examen.

If you study a lot, you are going to pass the exam.

El tiempo pasa muy rápido cuando te diviertes.

Time passes very quickly when you're having fun.

Vimos pasar un tren por la ventana.

We saw a train pass by the window.

Para ir al banco, tienes que pasar el puente.

To get to the bank, you have to cross the bridge.

Who are you passing it to?

This use of 'pasar' almost always comes with a little word like 'me', 'te', 'le' to show who is receiving the item. 'Pása-me' literally means 'Pass-to-me'.

pasar

/pa-sar//paˈsaɾ/

verbA2general
Use 'pasar' when handing an object to someone else, often as a polite request.
A small, brightly colored car driving across a simple wooden bridge over a small stream.

Examples

¿Me puedes pasar la sal, por favor?

Can you pass me the salt, please?

El tiempo pasa muy rápido cuando te diviertes.

Time passes very quickly when you're having fun.

Vimos pasar un tren por la ventana.

We saw a train pass by the window.

Para ir al banco, tienes que pasar el puente.

To get to the bank, you have to cross the bridge.

Who are you passing it to?

This use of 'pasar' almost always comes with a little word like 'me', 'te', 'le' to show who is receiving the item. 'Pása-me' literally means 'Pass-to-me'.

correr

koh-REHR/koˈrer/

verbA2general
Use 'correr' only when referring to the movement of liquids (like water) or the passage of time in a continuous, flowing manner.
Clear blue water flowing rapidly over smooth river stones in a natural setting.

Examples

El agua corre desde la montaña hasta el río.

The water flows from the mountain to the river.

El rumor corrió por toda la oficina en minutos.

The rumor circulated (ran) through the entire office in minutes.

Necesitamos arreglar la tubería porque está corriendo agua.

We need to fix the pipe because water is leaking/running out.

Confusing 'pasar' with 'correr' for time

Learners often mistakenly use 'correr' for the general passage of time. Remember, 'correr' implies a flowing or running motion, like a river. For time moving forward or time passing quickly, 'pasar' is almost always the correct choice.

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