Passer chez qn: avoir ou etre?

Question

Hi!
I'm confused with the meaning "I pass by sth/sb", would you pls help to clarify?
in the examples to the lesson "Passer with etre and avoir... change meanings"  https://kwiziq.learnfrenchwithalexa.com/my-languages/french/view/4583 the sentence Elle est passée chez Laurent hier is certainly used with "etre", while in the example to the current lesson the example with the same meaning as I can understand from translation implies "avoir": Je passe devant chez toi tous les matins.
What is the difference? Is there any particualar nuance?
Thanks!

Cécile Janty-Davies · Accepted Answer

Hi Dina,
In the examples you give the verb passer has two different meanings:
Je suis passé(e) d'abord chez elle avant de... = I dropped by her house before ... and it will use être in the perfect tense.
Je suis passé(e) devant chez toi ce matin= I went by your house this morning, will use être too.
The first verb implies a quick visit, to drop by/ to pop in.
The second is to pass by in a physical sense.
Passer quelque chose à quelqu'un = to pass something to someone
will take avoir as will passer when it means to spend time .
Je lui ai passé le sel = I gave him the salt.
Nous avons passé de bons moments ensemble = We spent/had some good time together
Hope this helps!

Dina Kassenova · Answer

Thanks, this helps!