How to Use the French Verbs "Passer" and "Se Passer" – Examples & Exercises

The French verb passer and its reflexive form se passer are very common and versatile in everyday French. Depending on the context, they can mean:

·       To go past or pass by somethin, to spend time or enjoy an event, to take (or pass) an exam, to happen or take place or even to do without something

In this article, you will learn the main meanings of passer and se passer in French, with clear examples, English translations, and exercises to practice using both verbs correctly.

1. What Does the French Verb Passer Mean? (Non-Reflexive Usage)

A. To go past / to pass by ( used with verb être at past participle)

🔹 Elle passe devant la boulangerie tous les matins.
She walks past the bakery every morning.

🔹 Le train est passé à toute vitesse.
The train went by at full speed.

B. To spend time ( used with verb avoir at past participle)

🔹 Nous avons passé une semaine à Rome.
We spent a week in Rome.

🔹 Il aime passer du temps avec ses amis.
He likes spending time with his friends.

C. To take (or pass) an exam

🔹 Elle va passer son permis de conduire.
She’s going to take her driving test.

🔹 J’ai passé le bac en 2020.
I took the baccalauréat in 2020.

D. To have a good time / to enjoy an event

🔹 On a passé une excellente soirée !
We had a great evening!

🔹 Passe un bon week-end !
Have a nice weekend!

🔹 J’espère que tu passeras de bonnes vacances.
I hope you’ll have a nice holiday.

2. What Does Se Passer Mean in French? (Reflexive Usage)

A. Se passer = To happen / To take place

"Se passer" is often used to ask or talk about how things are going or what happened. It replaces the more formal avoir lieu.

🔹 Que s’est-il passé ?
What happened?

🔹 Il ne s’est rien passé pendant la nuit.
Nothing happened during the night.

🔹 Est-ce que tout se passe bien ?
Is everything going well?

🔹 Est-ce que tout s’est bien passé ?
Did everything go well?

These expressions are commonly used in everyday conversations:

·       When checking in during an event or activity:
➤ Alors, votre voyage ? Tout se passe bien ?
So, your trip? Everything going well?

·       After an event:
➤ Comment s’est passé ton entretien ?
How did your interview go?

B.  Se passer de = To do without something

🔹 Je peux très bien me passer de chocolat.
I can easily do without chocolate.

🔹 Tu crois pouvoir te passer de ton téléphone ?
Do you think you can do without your phone?

3. How to Use Passer to Talk About Time in French

🔹 Le temps passe vite quand on s’amuse.
Time goes by quickly when we’re having fun.

🔹 Trois années ont passé depuis son départ.
Three years have passed since he left.

4. Exercices

Exercise 1: Choose between “passer” and “se passer” and conjugate correctly

Instructions: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of passer or se passer, in the appropriate tense.

1. Yesterday, something strange __________ in the street.

2. We're going to __________ the weekend in the countryside.

3. She can’t __________ coffee in the morning.

4. What __________ during your absence?

5. The bus just __________ in front of the school.

6. They __________ their holidays in Spain.

7. Time __________ too fast when I’m with you.

8. I think I’m going to __________ my exam tomorrow.

9. Do you think you can __________ your computer for a week?

10. Nothing __________ last night.

✅ Correction – Exercise 1

1. s’est passé

2. passer

3. se passer de

4. s’est passé

5. est passé

6. ont passé

7. passe

8. passer

9. te passer de

10. s’est passé

📝 Exercise 2: Translate the following sentences using passer

Instructions: Translate these sentences into French using passer or se passer as appropriate.

1. We had a wonderful evening.

2. Have a good weekend!

3. He always spends his summers in the south.

4. What happened yesterday?

5. Can you do without your phone for one day?

   Correction – Exercise 2 (Translations)

   1. Nous avons passé une soirée merveilleuse.

   2. Passe un bon week-end !

   3. Il passe toujours ses étés dans le sud.

   4. Qu’est-ce qui s’est passé hier ?

   5. Peux-tu te passer de ton téléphone pendant une journée ?

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