A read operation for non-storage elements compensates for floating gate-to-floating gate coupling and effects of program-erase cycles. During programming of a word line WLn+1, the threshold voltages of previously-programmed storage elements on WLn are increased due to coupling. To compensate for the increase, during a subsequent read operation of WLn, different sets of pass voltages are applied to WLn+1 for each control gate read voltage which is applied to WLn. The pass voltages vary in each different set so that they are a function of the control gate read voltage which is applied to WLn. The pass voltages may also be a function of a number of program-erase cycles. A higher amount of compensation is provided by increasing the pass voltages as the number of program-erase cycles increases.