Passerby is a commonly used term in the English language that refers to a person who is passing by a particular place. It is often used in news reports, stories, and everyday conversations. However, many people are often confused about the plural form of this word. In this article, we will explore the plural form of passerby and provide examples of its usage to help you understand it better.
Definition and Plural of Passerby
What Does “Passerby” Mean?
A passerby (noun) refers to a person who passes by — someone walking past a place, often casually or without stopping.
Simple Definition:
- Passerby = a person who happens to be passing a certain place.
Examples:
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A passerby helped the woman pick up her groceries.
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The police asked a passerby if he saw what happened.
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A curious passerby stopped to watch the street performer.
What Is the Plural of “Passerby”?
✅ The correct plural of passerby is passersby, not passerbys.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| passerby | passersby |
Examples:
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Several passersby stopped to look at the street artist.
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The accident drew a crowd of curious passersby.
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Police interviewed two passersby who witnessed the event.
Pronunciation Guide
| Word | IPA Pronunciation | How It Sounds |
|---|---|---|
| passerby | /ˌpæsərˈbaɪ/ | “PASS-er-by” |
| passersby | /ˌpæsərzˈbaɪ/ | “PASS-ers-by” |
When to Use “Passersby”
Use passersby in any context where you’re talking about more than one person passing a place:
1. Everyday life:
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“The new café attracted many passersby with its smell of coffee.”
2. News reports:
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“Police questioned several passersby who witnessed the incident.”
3. Storytelling or descriptions:
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“The street performer amazed the crowd of passersby with his tricks.”
4. Formal writing:
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“Safety signs are placed along the road to warn passersby of falling debris.”
✅ Rule: Always use passersby — never passerbys.
Examples in Sentences
Singular: “Passerby”
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A passerby called an ambulance immediately.
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The shop owner waved to a passerby walking by.
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A friendly passerby helped me find my way.
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The dog barked at a passerby on the street.
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A passerby noticed smoke coming from the building.
Plural: “Passersby”
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The artist attracted many passersby with his music.
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Several passersby witnessed the accident.
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Curious passersby gathered to see what was happening.
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The store offered free samples to passersby.
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The noisy protest caught the attention of passersby downtown.
Real-Life Examples
| Context | Example Sentence |
|---|---|
| News | “Two passersby helped the injured cyclist.” |
| Storytelling | “Children waved to smiling passersby on the street.” |
| Travel | “Vendors called out to passersby to sell souvenirs.” |
| Everyday Life | “Bright lights caught the attention of curious passersby.” |
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with passerby or passersby.
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A kind ______ helped the old man cross the road.
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Several ______ stopped to see the street performance.
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The police interviewed a ______ after the accident.
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Curious ______ gathered around the fire truck.
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The dog barked loudly at every ______.
Answer:
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passerby
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passersby
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passerby
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passersby
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passerby
Exercise 2: Choose the correct sentence.
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a) The passerbys gathered near the scene.
b) The passersby gathered near the scene. ✅ -
a) A passerby reported the fire to the police. ✅
b) A passersby reported the fire to the police. -
a) The street magician drew a crowd of passersby. ✅
b) The street magician drew a crowd of passerbys. -
a) One passerby offered help immediately. ✅
b) One passersby offered help immediately. -
a) The noise attracted many passersby. ✅
b) The noise attracted many passerbys.