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"Sí" is a form of "sí", an adverb which is often translated as "yes". "Pasa" is a form of "pasar", a transitive verb which is often translated as "to pass". Learn more about the difference between "sí" and "pasa" below.
sí(
see
)An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or other adverbs (e.g., to run quickly, very tired).
a. yes
¿Quieres ir al cine? - Sí, pero primero hay que comer.Do you want to go to the movies? - Yes, but let's eat first.
2. (emphatic)
a. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
Yo sí quiero acompañarlos a Disney.I do want to go with you to Disney World.
Ella no aprobó, pero yo sí.She didn't pass, but I did.
An interjection is a short utterance that expresses emotion, hesitation, or protest (e.g., Wow!).
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
A pronoun is a word that stands in for a noun (e.g., she).
a. himself (third person singular masculine)
Suele jugar ajedrez con sí mismo.He usually plays chess against himself.
b. herself (third person singular feminine)
¡Se envió una carta a sí misma!She sent a letter to herself!
c. itself (third person singular)
El hilo se está enredando en sí.The string is getting tangled up in itself.
e. yourself (second person singular formal)
Solo desea el bien para sí.You only wish good for yourself.
f. yourselves (second person plural formal)
¡Solo tienen que creer en sí mismos!You just have to believe in yourselves!
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.
