did not pass

USAGE SUMMARY

"did not pass" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is used to indicate that something did not happen or was not successful. Example: The bill did not pass in the Senate, causing frustration among supporters.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Indeed, it did not pass.

The New Yorker

Penn State did not pass.

The New York Times - Sports

It did not pass the Senate.

The New York Times

The cubes did not pass muster.

The New York Times - Books

Congress did not pass such a bill.

The New York Times

(Similar legislation did not pass last session).

The New York Times

The measure did not pass.

The New York Times

The resolution did not pass.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

(It didn't pass).

The New Yorker

The amendment didn't pass.

The New Yorker

I still didn't pass much.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "did not pass" in formal writing, ensure the subject and verb agree in number and tense. For instance, "the bill did not pass" (singular) versus "the amendments did not pass" (plural).

Common error

Avoid using incorrect verb forms such as "did not passed". Remember that "pass" is already in its base form after "did not".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "did not pass" is to express negation of a past action or event, specifically indicating that something was not successful in being approved, enacted, or completed. Ludwig shows many examples of this usage in news, scientific, and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

20%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "did not pass" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate the failure of something to be approved or successfully completed. As Ludwig AI confirms, its applications are diverse, ranging from legislative outcomes to scientific testing. It maintains a neutral tone, making it suitable for various registers, but is most frequently observed in news and media, and scientific contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure correct verb tense usage to avoid common grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failed to pass

Replaces the auxiliary verb "did" with "failed", maintaining a similar meaning.

was not approved

Shifts the focus to the lack of approval, rather than the action of passing.

did not succeed

Uses a different verb, "succeed", to convey the lack of a positive outcome.

was rejected

Emphasizes the negative decision made against something.

did not make it through

Implies a process or barrier that something could not overcome.

fell short of passing

Highlights that the attempt to pass almost succeeded, but ultimately failed.

was unsuccessful in passing

More formal phrasing emphasizing the lack of success.

the passage was not achieved

Rephrases the sentence in passive voice, focusing on the lack of achievement.

could not be passed

Indicates an inability to pass due to external factors or inherent limitations.

met with failure

Uses a more figurative expression to describe the unsuccessful attempt.

FAQs

How to use "did not pass" in a sentence?

Use "did not pass" to indicate that something failed to be approved or enacted. For example, "The legislation "did not pass" the final vote".

What can I say instead of "did not pass"?

You can use alternatives like "failed to pass", "was not approved", or "did not succeed" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "did not pass" or "did not passed"?

"Did not pass" is correct. The auxiliary verb "did" already indicates past tense, so the main verb "pass" should be in its base form. "Did not passed" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "did not pass" and "failed to pass"?

Both phrases convey a similar meaning, but "failed to pass" may imply a stronger sense of effort or attempt that ultimately ended in failure, while ""did not pass"" is a more neutral statement of fact.