Overtake or pass?
If you go past a moving object faster to be in front of it, you OVERTAKE it. It's clear.
But if you need to go past a static object on the road, like a pothole or puddle, so as not to damage or dirty your car, what do you say? PASS?

Question

Overtake or pass?
If you go past a moving object faster to be in front of it, you OVERTAKE it. It's clear. 
But if you need to go past a static object on the road, like a pothole or puddle, so as not to damage or dirty your car, what do you say? PASS?

Answer

Using 'pass' works.  For example, 'I passed a pothole in the road' or 'I drove past a pothole'.

This only says you passed by the pot hole however, it doesn't indicate anything more.  If you wanted to explain why, like your sentence above, it would be more like this...

'I avoided the puddle in the road as I passed by to keep my car clean'

Hope that helps.

Answer

It sounds strange to me. I've never said that I passed a pothole. Nor can I think why one would even say that.
If you really want to say it, you might say that you 'drove around' a hole or a puddle.

Answers · 3

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