Word of the Day: Pass
Sometimes the word “pass” is used when one person gives something to another person:
- Jorge passed the ball to his teammate. (“Pass” is commonly used in basketball, football, and soccer.)
- The family passed food around the table as they ate dinner.
- The government passed on some very important information to our company.
| simple | past | past participle |
|---|---|---|
|
pass
|
passed
|
passed
|
You can also use “pass” when going past* another person or thing.
- A car passed us on the highway. It was going over 85 miles per hour.
- If you happen to pass by the supermarket, please pick up some milk.
- An eagle just passed over our heads.
When a student achieves the minimum requirements of a school, he or she passes; however, passing a class does not always indicate that a person is a successful student:
- Henry barely passed all of his classes this year.
- Natalie didn’t pass her math class. She has to take it again next year.
- People who pass the bar exam can become lawyers.
The word “pass” is often used when a person dies:
- Elizabeth Taylor passed away a few years ago.
- Do you have a will that explains where all of your possessions go when you pass away?
- After I pass away, this website will be my legacy.
When objects or ideas go from one generation to the next, we can use this word:
- We have some recipes in our family that have been passed down through several generations.
- Angela passed some valuable gold necklaces on to her granddaughter.
Finally, when someone is attracted to another person, a pass might be made. In this case, the word becomes a noun:
- He made a pass at the woman, and she rejected it.
- A girl made a pass at Bob, but he didn’t realize it.
- If a supervisor makes a pass at an employee, that can result in some legal problems.
* Note: There’s a difference in spelling between the words, “pass” and “past.” The word “past” is a preposition.
Essential English Dictionary
Visit the Popular English Words Beginning with P page to see the list of all words starting with letter P. For seeing the HiCafe dictionary, visit the Popular English Words with Meaning page.
