There might be a regional difference here.
Overtaking is the normal term in BrE. I think passing is the normal term in AmE.
Have a look at the wikipedia entry.
Apparently in Australia, overtaking and passing mean different things. You overtake a vehicle moving in the same direction, but pass a vehicle that is stationary or moving in the opposite direction.
So if I'm driving in London, am I overtaking all the cars parked on the street?![]()
So if I'm driving in London, am I overtaking all the cars parked on the street?![]()
No, I would say going past all the parked cars. And I only overtake cars moving in the same direction, like Copyright.
Same here.Personally, if I was driving, and there was a slower car in front, I might say any of those three sentences..
It's strange you should say that, Archstudent.I've never heard anyone use pass, because pass is usually for oncoming traffic. If you said I passed 3 blue cars on the way to work, I would probably assume they were travelling in the opposite direction to you.
I am trying to pass the car in front me.
I am trying to overtake the car in front me.
I am trying to get past the car in front me.
Aussie, e.g., SA:Note: These NZ definitions are different from the AUSTROADS definitions.
- passing - the driver of slower vehicles uses passing facilities (such as passing lanes, slow vehicle bays and diagonally marked sealed shoulders) to let faster following vehicles pass.
- overtaking - the driver crosses the centreline and uses the opposing traffic lane to pass a slower vehicle.
So this seems to be a highly regional thing even when formal language is concerned.Overtaking is when you approach from behind and pass a vehicle travelling in the same direction. Most drivers and riders consider overtaking to be crossing to the 'wrong' side of the road to pass a vehicle in front. But, even if you do not cross to the 'wrong' side of the road, you are overtaking if you move into another lane or line of traffic either side of you to pass another vehicle.
Yarique, I don't think the definitions are incompatible. The definition of 'passing' for New Zealand suggests that the slow vehicles pull over at what I would call lay-bys (this is a BrE term), making that vehicle stationary. You'd pass a stationary vehicle but overtake a vehicle moving in the same direction.
Thank you!I generally use "passing", MeBenji. There are about 330 million people in the U.S., so some of them may use "overtake". I haven't noticed anybody using that word, however.
The difference is indeed kind of subtle, then. Anyway, great explanation, Andygc.I want to overtake - he's going slower than I want to go.
I want to get past - he's going a lot slower than I want to go, and I've been stuck behind him for far too long.
I don't. I get past an obstruction, such as a parked car, or a slow-moving vehicle. We, in the UK, don't build houses on our roads, we build them beside our roads. I go past houses.You get past, say, a house, not a moving car.
If I'm driving my car I can only get past a house if it's partially blocking the road. As I said, if it's in the usual place for a house, I go past it.You get past, say, a house, not a moving car.
You certainly can in BE, but it's "in your way".I suppose you can get past a broken down car which is on your way...
For a while, I used to investigate accidents and I interviewed hundreds of drivers:I am trying to pass the car in front me.
I am trying to overtake the car in front me.
I am trying to get past the car in front me.
"The Ruritanian economy is rapidly overtaking that of other east European countries" or "John's French is improving and he has overtaken most of the others in his class.". What would you say in the USA? Pass?
You're putting in an insurance claim in Hong Kong? I would use overtake because I think the British usage is dominant in Hong Kong.This question has been added to a previous thread. Cagey, moderator
I call the insurance company for claiming a accident and say "The other driver 'overtook' or 'passed' my car illegally from my right side."
Are they both correct in AmE? If so, which is more formal in accident claims? Thank you.
Is there also a verb which has the meaning of the third definition?
or (iv) there was too much oncoming traffic.I am trying to get past the car in front me. -> This indicates to me that there might have been some difficulty or danger in the manoeuvre and I would assume that the car in front of you was (i) stationary but in an awkward position or, (ii) was moving or manoeuvring slowly or (iii) you were in a desperate hurry and liable to take a risk...