Transitive vs Intransitive

The difference transitive & intransitive verbs is simply a matter of

whether the subject is moving only itself or with/in/on a direct object.

 If the subject is moving, the verb is intransitive and you need être.
 If there’s a direct object, the verb is transitive and you need avoir

dpsr
intransitive (être) transitive (avoir)
descendre to go down(stairs) to take down

entrer to go in to take/bring/put in

monter to go up(stairs) to take up

rentrer to go home to bring in, to put (a thing) in

retourner to go back to turn (a thing) over, to send (a thing

back)

sortir to go out to take (a thing) out

1 Je suis descendu.
vs
J’ai descendu la chaise.

2 Je suis retourné au magasin.

vs
J’ai retourné le pull.

Passer
When used intransitively, passer is followed by a preposition and means
"to pass / to go past."

Par exemple…

Je suis passé devant la porte. I went past the door.

Je suis passé par Rouen. I passed through Rouen.
When there’s a direct object, passer has two potential meanings:

1) to go through
J’ai passé la porte. I went through/out the door.
2) to spend time
J’ai passé un mois à Rouen. I spent a month in Rouen.