How does se passer differ from passer with être?

HeyesC1Kwiziq community member

How does se passer differ from passer with être?

Asked 6 years ago
JimC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Se passer has the meaning of to take place or to happen and takes être as does all pronominal verbs.

Passer can be used with a direct object (transitive) and takes avoir or with an indirect object (intransitive) and has to take être.

Hope this helps.

Alan

ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Just to build upon Jim's explanation:

Je suis passé chez Élise. 
I passed by Élise's place. 
-> intransitive, hence être 

J'y ai passé beaucoup de temps. 
I spent a lot of time there. 
-> transitive, hence avoir 

-- Chris (not a native speaker).

HeyesC1Kwiziq community member
Yes, it does. Thank you.
JoanneB2Kwiziq community member

Hello,

If I want to say "I passed by Bob's house today," I would say, "Je suis passe chez Bob." Is that correct? If it is, I don't understand how "chez Bob" is an indirect object. Just a bit confused here. Thanks for any help you can provide.

How does se passer differ from passer with être?

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