passa is one of those verbs that does a surprising amount of work. It is a perfectly regular Group 1 verb (passar, passade, passat), but it carries several distinct senses you will hear constantly: to fit / suit (clothes, plans, people), to mind / look after (children, a shop), passa på ("to seize the chance"), passa ihop ("to go together"), and even "to pass" in sports and cards. The conjugation is the easy part; the senses are what to master.
Principal parts
| Infinitive | Present | Preteritum (past) | Supine | Imperative | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| passa | passar | passade | passat | passa | Group 1 |
Fully regular: present passar (stem + -ar), past passade (full -ade), supine passat (-at, after har), imperative passa! identical to the stem. The doubled ss belongs to the stem and stays throughout.
Use 1: passa — to fit / suit / work for someone
This is the bread-and-butter sense. Passa can mean clothes fit (the right size), something suits you (looks good), or — very commonly — a time or plan works for you. The handy phrase Det passar mig means "that works for me / that suits me."
Tröjan passar perfekt.
The jumper fits perfectly. passa = fit (the right size).
Passar det dig att ses på fredag?
Does it work for you to meet on Friday? Det passar dig = it suits / works for you — note the dative-like object.
Tyvärr passar det inte mig idag.
Unfortunately that doesn't work for me today. Det passar (inte) mig — the everyday scheduling phrase.
Den färgen passade henne verkligen.
That colour really suited her. passade — regular past, 'suited / looked good on'.
Use 2: passa (någon) — to mind / look after
With a person or thing as object, passa means to mind / look after / keep an eye on. Passa barnen is the ordinary way to say "babysit"; you can also passa hunden or passa affären ("mind the shop").
Kan du passa barnen i kväll?
Can you look after the kids tonight? passa barnen = babysit.
Hon passade affären medan jag var borta.
She minded the shop while I was away. passa = keep an eye on / look after.
Use 3: passa på — to seize the chance
Passa på means to take the opportunity, to seize the chance (often "while you can"). It frequently appears as passa på att + infinitive — "take the chance to do something."
Passa på att vila medan barnen sover!
Take the chance to rest while the kids are asleep! passa på att + infinitive.
Vi passade på att handla när det var rea.
We seized the chance to shop while there was a sale. passade på att — past.
Use 4: passa ihop — to go together / match
Passa ihop means two or more things go together / match — colours, people, a pair.
De där färgerna passar inte ihop.
Those colours don't go together. passa ihop = match / suit each other.
Ni passar verkligen ihop som par.
You two really go well together as a couple. passa ihop of people.
Use 5: passa — to pass (sport, cards)
In sports passa is "to pass" the ball; in card games it's "to pass" your turn.
Passa bollen till mig!
Pass the ball to me! passa = pass (sport).
Common Mistakes
❌ Tröjan passer perfekt.
Incorrect — passa is Group 1, so the present is passar (-ar), not *passer (-er).
✅ Tröjan passar perfekt.
The jumper fits perfectly.
❌ Det passade mig inte igår, jag passde inte tiden.
Incorrect — Group 1 takes the full -ade: passade, never *passde.
✅ Det passade mig inte igår.
That didn't work for me yesterday.
❌ Det passar för mig att ses på fredag.
Incorrect — passa takes the person directly as object: Det passar mig, no för.
✅ Det passar mig att ses på fredag.
It works for me to meet on Friday.
❌ Jag måste passa på barnen i kväll.
Off — 'look after' is plain passa barnen. passa PÅ means 'seize the chance', a different sense.
✅ Jag måste passa barnen i kväll.
I have to look after the kids tonight.
❌ Jag har passade på att vila.
Incorrect — after har use the supine: har passat, not *har passade.
✅ Jag har passat på att vila.
I've taken the chance to rest.
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