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"Pasando" is a form of "pasar", a transitive verb which is often translated as "to pass". "Atravesando" is a form of "atravesar", a transitive verb which is often translated as "to cross". Learn more about the difference between "pasando" and "atravesando" below.
pasar(
pah
-
sahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
2. (to occur)
4. (to reach)
a. to meet
Los materiales no pasan los criterios rigurosos internos.The materials don't meet the strict internal standards.
5. (to suffer)
a. to go through
La familia pasó muchas dificultades durante la posguerra.The family went through a lot of hard times in the period after the war.
a. to spend
¿Qué hiciste durante las vacaciones? - Pasé el mes entero en casa de mis abuelos.What did you do during the vacation? - I spent the whole month at my grandparents'.
Cuando tenemos exámenes, pasamos mucho tiempo estudiando.When we have exams, we spend a lot of time studying.
7. (education)
a. to pass
Si paso este examen, habré acabado la carrera.If I pass this exam, I'll have finished my degree.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
8. (to proceed)
9. (to elapse)
10. (to pass along)
a. to go by
Ayer pasé por la casa de Alicia, pero las luces estaban apagadas. - Se fue de vacaciones.Last night I went by Alicia's house, but the lights were off. - She went away on vacation.
11. (to travel past)
pasarse
A reciprocal verb is a verb that indicates that two or more subjects perform an action on each other (e.g., Ellos se abrazan.).
13. (to transmit)
a. to pass
Los amigos se pasaron las respuestas durante el examen.The friends passed each other the answers during the test.
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
14. (to change)
a. to go over (to a different side)
Se pasó al bando del oponente.He went over to the opponent's side.
b. to come over (to your side)
Tenemos que convencerlos a que se pasen a nuestro lado.We have to convince them to come over to our side.
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
No llamé a Mamá. Se me pasó por completo.I haven't called Mom; it completely slipped my mind.
¿Por qué no compraste pan? - Tenía prisa y se me pasó.Why didn't you buy some bread? - I was in a hurry and it slipped my mind.
a. to miss
Se me pasó la fecha límite para entregar la solicitud.I missed the deadline for sending in my application.
b. to go off (United Kingdom)
Regionalism used in the United Kingdom
Esta mantequilla ya está para tirar. Se ha pasado.This butter can be thrown away. It's gone off.
c. to go soft (cookies or fruit)
Aunque las guardaba en una lata, las galletas se pasaron.Even though I kept them in a tin, the cookies went soft.
d. to go stale (bread, cake, cookies)
Hay que comer el pastel antes de que se pase.We must eat the cake before it goes stale.
19. (to wilt)
a. to fade
¿Puedes cortar más flores? Estas se han pasado.Can you cut some more flowers? These ones have faded.
20. (culinary)
a. to be overdone
Retira la pasta del fuego o se pasará.Take the pasta off the heat or it will be overdone.
21. (to occupy)
a. to spend
Alejandro se pasa todo el tiempo en la cama mirando la televisión.Alejandro spends all his time in bed watching television.
22. (colloquial) (to go to extremes)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
a. to go too far
¡Deja de burlarte de Amalia! A veces te pasas.Stop teasing Amalia! You go too far sometimes.
b. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
¡No te pases con el azúcar!Don't put too much sugar in it!
Lo siento, me pasé con la pimienta.I'm sorry. I overdid it with the pepper.
a. to be far too
Elena se pasa de amable; siempre quiere ayudar a la gente.Elena's far too kind; she always wants to help people.
25. (to disappear)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
No te preocupes por mí. Ya se me pasó el mareo.Don't worry about me. I'm no longer feeling seasick.
No necesito una aspirina. Ya se me pasó el dolor de cabeza.I don't need an aspirin. My headache is gone.
atravesar(
ah
-
trah
-
beh
-
sahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
a. to cross
Atravesaron las montañas al amparo de la noche.They crossed the mountains under cover of night.
Siempre debes mirar en ambas direcciones antes de atravesar la carretera.You should always look both ways before crossing the highway.
b. to go through
La Avenida Santa Fe atraviesa toda la ciudad de Buenos Aires.Santa Fe Avenue goes through the whole of Buenos Aires.
a. to go through
¡Chin! Creo que el clavo atravesó la tabla.Oops! I think the nail went through the board.
b. to pierce
La espada no logró atravesar la armadura del caballero.The sword didn't manage to pierce the knight's armor.
a. to go through
Estamos atravesando momentos complejos en mi país.We're going through complex times in my country.
b. to experience
Has atravesado dificultades que poca gente podrá entender.You've experienced difficulties that few people will be able to understand.
4. (to place)
a. to put across
Atravesaron una cuerda en el camino para que la gente tuviera que pararse y pagarles para seguir manejando.They put a rope across the road so people would have to stop and pay them to continue driving.
atravesarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
b. to cross in front of
Ayer se me atravesó un peatón y por poquito no le di con la moto.Yesterday a pedestrian crossed in front of me and I almost hit him with my motorbike.
6. (to occur)
a. to arise
A menos que se nos atraviese algún inconveniente, firmamos el trato mañana.Unless some problem arises, we sign the deal tomorrow.
7. (to stick)
a. to butt into (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Ya deja de atravesarte en las conversaciones de los demás.Stop butting into other people's conversations.
9. (to annoy)
a. to rub the wrong way (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
El nuevo jefe se nos atravesó a todos desde su primer día en la oficina.The new boss has rubbed us all the wrong way since his first day in the office.
