How does se passer differ from passer with être?

Question

Jim Jones · Accepted Answer

Se passer has the meaning of to take place or to happen and takes être as does all pronominal verbs.
Passer can be used with a direct object (transitive) and takes avoir or with an indirect object (intransitive) and has to take être.
Hope this helps.
Alan

Chris Wirt · Answer

Just to build upon Jim's explanation:
Je suis passé chez Élise. I passed by Élise's place. -> intransitive, hence être  J'y ai passé beaucoup de temps. I spent a lot of time there. -> transitive, hence avoir 
-- Chris (not a native speaker).

Heyes Sue · Answer

Yes, it does.
Thank you.

Joanne Hoersch · Answer

Hello,If I want to say "I passed by Bob's house today," I would say, "Je suis passe chez Bob." Is that correct? If it is, I don't understand how "chez Bob" is an indirect object. Just a bit confused here. Thanks for any help you can provide.