What is pass? Pronunciation and usage in English

pass means . Learn how to pronounce and use pass through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of pass

passverb

/pɑːs/
Definition & pronunciation of pass

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "pass" in English. It's a tricky one because it has two very different pronunciations depending on how it's used!

1. "Pass" as in "to give something" (verb):

  • Pronunciation: /pæs/ (Sounds like "pahs")
  • Breakdown:
    • "p" - Pronounced like the "p" in "pen."
    • "a" - Pronounced like the "a" in "father."
    • "s" - Pronounced like the "s" in "sun."
  • Emphasis: The emphasis is generally on the first syllable ("pah").

2. "Pass" as in "to allow" or "to let through" (verb):

  • Pronunciation: /pɑːs/ (Sounds like "paahs" - with a longer "a" sound)
  • Breakdown:
    • "p" - Pronounced like the "p" in "pen."
    • "a" - Pronounced like the "a" in "father" (a longer sound than in the first pronunciation).
    • "s" - Pronounced like the "s" in "sun."
  • Emphasis: The emphasis is on the second syllable ("paahs"). The "a" sound is held slightly longer.

How to tell the difference:

  • Context is key! The surrounding words will usually tell you which meaning is intended.
    • "Can you pass me the salt?" (Giving something)
    • "The gate will pass" (Allowing something to pass)

Resources for Hearing the Pronunciation:

Would you like me to:

  • Give you some example sentences using each pronunciation?
  • Explain any part of the pronunciation in more detail?

Usage and examples with the word pass in English

Let's break down how to use the word "pass" in English – it's a surprisingly versatile word! Here's a breakdown of its different meanings and how to use them, organized into categories:

1. Movement & Transfer (Physical)

  • To move something from one person or place to another:

    • "Can you pass me the salt?" (requesting something to be handed over)
    • "Please pass the parcel." (a children's game)
    • "He passed the keys to his brother." (transferring possession)
    • “She passed the exam with flying colors.” (completed successfully)

  • To move something along a line or through a space:

    • "The water passed through the filter." (flowing through)
    • "The money passed from hand to hand." (moving along a chain)
    • "The light passed through the window." (moving through an opening)

2. Actions & Completion

  • To succeed in a test or competition:

    • "I hope you pass your driving test." (to succeed and receive a license)
    • "The team passed the qualifying round." (to be successful at a stage)
    • “He passed his audition for the play.” (succeeded in the audition)

  • To be accepted or approved:

    • “The application passed the review committee.” (was approved)
    • “The bill passed the Senate.” (was approved by the Senate)

  • To stop functioning (of a light, electrical device, etc.):

    • “The traffic light passed.” (turned red)
    • “The radio passed.” (stopped working)

3. Sharing & Giving (Often with Drinks or Food)

  • To offer someone a drink or food:

    • "Would you pass the wine?" (offer to hand it over)
    • “He passed me his coffee.” (offering to share a drink)

  • To convey something to someone:

    • “He passed on his knowledge to his students.” (shared information)

4. Time & Duration

  • To expire or end (of a deadline or period):

    • "The deadline for submission passes tomorrow." (the time is running out)
    • "The warranty passes after five years." (the period of coverage ends)

  • To move on to the next stage (of a process):

    • "We’ll pass to the next topic." (move on to the next point)

5. Informal Usage & Idioms

  • "To pass away" / "To pass on": (to die – a more gentle way of saying “to die”) - "My grandfather passed away last week."
  • "To pass the time": (to spend time doing something to keep busy) - “I'm just passing the time while I wait.”
  • "Pass on" (to share information): - “I’ll pass on that rumor.” (I won’t share it)

Tips for Understanding Context

The meaning of "pass" is highly dependent on the context of the sentence. Pay attention to the words around it to figure out what it's referring to.

Resources for More Examples:

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  • What kind of context are you interested in? (e.g., everyday conversation, academic writing, formal speeches?)
  • Are there any specific situations you’d like to know how to use "pass" in?

Synonyms for the word pass

Idioms of the word pass

come to pass
(old use)to happen
  • How did such a disaster come to pass?
  • I wondered how it came to pass that a thinking man bore the prejudices of his unthinking parents.
not pass your lips
if words do not pass your lips, you say nothing
    if food or drink does not pass your lips, you eat or drink nothing
      pass the hat round/around
      (informal)to collect money from a number of people, for example to buy a present for somebody
        pass muster
        to be accepted as of a good enough standard
          pass the time of day (with somebody)
          to say hello to somebody and have a short conversation with them
            pass water
            (formal)to urinate

              Practice with vocabulary pass

              Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

              1. The project team needs to __________ all relevant data to the analytics department by end of day.
              2. After intense deliberation, the board voted to __________ the proposed changes to the company's leave policy.
              3. Despite the initial challenges, the startup managed to __________ all the stringent regulatory requirements.
              4. The consultant will __________ the findings of the market research in detail during next week's presentation.

              Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (there may be multiple correct answers)

              1. During the meeting, could you please __________ the attendance sheet to everyone for signatures? a) distribute b) circulate c) pass d) hand over

              2. The management decided to __________ the authority for budget approvals to the regional managers. a) delegate b) transfer c) bestow d) pass

              3. It is crucial for all students to __________ their end-of-year assessments to proceed to the next academic level. a) complete b) succeed in c) achieve d) pass

              4. The company aims to __________ a new milestone in sustainable production by the end of the fiscal year. a) reach b) attain c) achieve d) make

              5. The new security protocols will __________ into effect starting next Monday. a) come b) take c) enter d) go

              Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

              1. The university Senate approved the new curriculum proposal. Rewrite using "pass":
              2. The manager gave the confidential information to his assistant to file away. Rewrite using "pass":
              3. He successfully completed all the mandatory training modules last month. Rewrite using a suitable replacement word for "completed" that does not mean "pass":

              Answer:

              Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

              1. pass on
              2. pass
              3. meet
              4. present

              Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

              1. a) distribute, b) circulate, c) pass, d) hand over
              2. a) delegate, b) transfer, d) pass
              3. b) succeed in, d) pass
              4. a) reach, b) attain, c) achieve
              5. a) come, c) enter, d) go

              Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

              1. The new curriculum proposal was passed by the university Senate.
              2. The manager passed on the confidential information to his assistant to file away.
              3. He successfully finished all the mandatory training modules last month. (Other acceptable words: finalized, concluded)

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