Will Be Pass vs. Will Be Passed – Which is Correct?
The correct phrase is “will be passed.” Use it when something is expected to receive an action in the future, such as a law being approved or an exam being successfully completed. “Will be pass” is incorrect because “will” requires the base verb, while passive constructions require “be passed” here.
Will Be Pass or Will Be Passed – Which Is Correct?
“Will be passed” is correct. It is a future passive construction used when the subject receives an action. For example, “The bill will be passed” means that legislators will approve the bill.
“Will be pass” is incorrect in standard English. The confusion usually happens because pass is the base form of the verb. After the auxiliary verb will, the active form is “will pass,” but a passive sentence requires be followed by the past participle, passed.
Compare these structures:
- Active: The committee will pass the bill.
- Passive: The bill will be passed by the committee.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the “who acts?” test. If the subject performs the action, use will pass: “The student will pass the test.” If the subject receives the action, use will be passed: “The test will be passed by the student.” Remember that passive voice follows the pattern will + be + past participle.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| will be pass | Incorrect verb phrase | Not grammatical in standard English | Incorrect: The bill will be pass. |
| will be passed | Future passive verb phrase | Something will receive the action of passing | The bill will be passed tomorrow. |
How to Use Will Be Passed
Use will be passed when an action will happen in the future and the focus is on the person or thing receiving that action. The phrase is common in formal, professional, academic, legal, political, and everyday contexts.
The person or group performing the action can be included with by, but it is often omitted when the actor is unknown, obvious, or unimportant.
Example 1: The new law will be passed by the state legislature.
Example 2: The final exam will be passed by most prepared students.
Example 3: The package will be passed to the next department for review.
What Are the Different Forms of Will Be Passed?
Passed is the regular past participle of the verb pass. The main forms of the verb are pass, passes, passed, and passing. In the future passive construction, the pattern is always will + be + passed.
- Present active: The committee passes the bill.
- Future active: The committee will pass the bill.
- Past active: The committee passed the bill.
- Future passive: The bill will be passed by the committee.
Etymology of the Word Passed
Passed comes from the verb pass, which entered English through Middle English and Anglo-French forms related to the Latin word passus, meaning “step” or “pace.” Over time, pass developed meanings connected with moving by, transferring something, succeeding, and approving a proposal.
Related Concepts
Understanding auxiliary verbs and passive voice makes the difference between will be pass and will be passed much easier to recognize.
- Future tense: English commonly uses will to describe an action expected to happen later. In an active sentence, will is followed by the base verb, as in “They will pass the bill.”
- Passive voice: Passive voice focuses on the receiver of an action. Its future form follows the pattern will be + past participle, as in “The bill will be passed.”
- Past participle: Passed is the past participle needed after be in this passive construction. The base form pass cannot be used there.
- Transitive verbs: A transitive verb takes an object, such as “The committee passed the bill.” That object can become the subject of a passive sentence: “The bill will be passed.”
Examples from Media and Literature
The phrase will be passed appears in many kinds of reporting and storytelling, especially when writers describe future decisions, examinations, objects being transferred, or laws receiving approval.
- News reporting: “The proposed transportation bill will be passed after lawmakers reach an agreement.” This focuses on the bill rather than the lawmakers.
- Political journalism: “The measure will be passed by the senate before the end of the session.” The phrase describes an expected legislative outcome.
- Sports writing: “The ball will be passed to the team’s leading scorer.” Here, the ball receives the action of being passed.
- School-related writing: “The student believes the examination will be passed with careful preparation.” The examination is presented as receiving the action.
- Historical or fictional storytelling: “The family heirloom will be passed from one generation to the next.” This use describes future transfer or inheritance.
Will Be Passed Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| will be approved | Will officially receive permission or acceptance |
| will be accepted | Will be received as satisfactory, valid, or suitable |
| will be transferred | Will be moved from one person, place, or group to another |
| will be handed over | Will be given or delivered to someone else |
| will be successful | Will meet the required standard, especially in an examination context |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “will be pass” grammatically correct?
No. “Will be pass” is not correct in standard English. Use “will pass” for an active sentence or “will be passed” for a passive sentence.
Question 2: What is the difference between “will pass” and “will be passed”?
“Will pass” is active: “The student will pass the exam.” “Will be passed” is passive: “The exam will be passed by the student.” The first focuses on the person acting, while the second focuses on what receives the action.
Question 3: Can “passed” refer to passing an exam?
Yes. “Passed” can mean successfully completed an examination, moved beyond something, transferred an object, or approved a proposal. The surrounding context determines its meaning.
Conclusion
Use “will be passed” when something will receive an action in the future, such as a bill being approved, an object being transferred, or an exam being successfully completed. Use “will pass” when the subject performs the action, and avoid “will be pass.” Pro Tip: Using the correct passive structure strengthens your writing and helps protect your professional reputation.
