Pass vs Put him through
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Pass
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Put him through
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Pass
| Pass | Put him through | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/pɑːs/","/ˈpɑːsɪz/","/pɑːst/","/ˈpɑːsɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pæs/","/ˈpæsɪz/","/pæst/","/ˈpæsɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //pʊt hɪm θruː//🇺🇸 //pʊt hɪm θru// |
| Meaning | To move past something or someone, or to allow something to happen. | To connect someone on a phone call. |
| Example | I will pass the ball to you during the game. | Can you please put him through to the manager? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | quickly, rapidly, soon, help (to), quickly, rapidly, soon, help (to), unanimously, overwhelmingly, narrowly, by… to…, peacefully, come to, let something, between, pass unnoticed | put someone through, put a call through, put her through, put him through on hold, put them through directly |
| Antonyms | stop, hold, block | - |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'pass' with 'past' in writing., Using 'pass' without an object when it requires one., Mixing up the different meanings of 'pass' in verbal contexts. | Confused with 'put through' in other contexts like completing tasks., Omitting 'him' when talking about connecting a person., Using 'to' instead of 'through' when referring to calls. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in both casual and formal contexts. Can refer to physical movement or to allowing someone to take a turn (e.g., in games). Not typically used in very formal writing when describing decisions. | Commonly used in phone contexts; avoid in formal writing. Use when referring to transferring calls. |
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Frequently asked questions: Pass vs Put him through
What's the difference between Pass and Put him through?
Pass: To move past something or someone, or to allow something to happen. Put him through: To connect someone on a phone call.
Which is more common: Pass and Put him through?
Pass is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Pass: I will pass the ball to you during the game. Put him through: Can you please put him through to the manager?
Can I use Pass and Put him through interchangeably?
Not always. Pass and Put him through are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.