Spanish Phrase
No se puede pasar por las carreteras.
Meaning
Literally, ‘It is not possible to go through the roads.’ The sentence is used to state a restriction – either a legal one, a temporary closure, or a safety warning – that prevents anyone from traveling on those roads.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to inform someone that a road is closed, that traffic is prohibited, or that a certain route is off‑limits. It works in both formal announcements (e.g., by authorities) and informal conversations (e.g., telling a friend about a detour).
✦Grammar Breakdown
Nosepuedepasarporlascarreteras
Negación (No)
‘No’ is the standard word for negation, placed before the verb phrase.
Pronombre impersonal (se)
‘se’ creates an impersonal construction, similar to the English ‘one can’t’ or ‘it’s not possible to…’.
Verbo modal (puede)
Third‑person singular present of ‘poder’, meaning ‘can’ or ‘be able to’.
Infinitivo (pasar)
The infinitive ‘pasar’ means ‘to go through, to pass’. In this structure it acts as the main action.
Preposición (por)
‘por’ indicates the route or means – ‘through/along’ the roads.
Artículo y sustantivo (las carreteras)
Plural definite article + noun, ‘the roads’. In many Spanish‑speaking countries ‘carretera’ is the generic word for a paved road.
🗨In Conversation
¿Podemos tomar la autopista para llegar al pueblo?
Can we take the highway to get to the town?
No se puede pasar por las carreteras, están cerradas por obras.
You can’t go on the roads, they’re closed for construction.
✕Common Mistakes
No se puede pasar **en** las carreteras.
The preposition ‘por’ is required after ‘pasar’ when you mean ‘to go through’ a route. ‘En’ would imply location, not movement.
No se puede pasar por carretera.
When you refer to multiple roads, use the plural ‘las carreteras’. Dropping the article changes the meaning to a generic concept.
↔Alternatives
No está permitido circular por las carreteras.
It is not allowed to drive on the roads.
No se permite el paso por las carreteras.
Passage on the roads is not permitted.
No se puede transitar por las carreteras.
One cannot travel on the roads.
Cultural Tip
In Spain and many Latin American countries, road closures are announced with the phrase ‘No se permite el paso’ or ‘Se prohíbe el tránsito’. The impersonal ‘se’ construction is neutral and works in both formal notices and casual speech. Remember that ‘pasar por’ is the usual collocation for “to travel through” a route; using ‘en’ (e.g., *pasar en la carretera*) sounds unnatural to native ears.