English grammar
Events: be on, take place, be held
Say where and when events happen with be on, take place and be held.
From the scene The concert takes place at ten
In short
For events, say be on, take place or be held. For people and things, use plain be: the singer is here.
Your turn
Which one goes with an event, planned?
Options: the festival's on in three days · the children's show is on there too · the concert takes place at ten
Show answer
an event, planned → the festival's on in three days
How it works
Be on is the everyday way to say an event is happening or planned: the festival's on in three days.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
And the stage? Where (blank) it now?
Clue: the stage = a thing
Options: is · is on · takes place
Show answer
And the stage? Where is it now?
¿Y el escenario? ¿Dónde está ahora?
Good to know
Take place is more formal: the concert takes place at ten. Be held is the formal passive: where's the concert being held?
Good to know
For people and things, use plain be: the singer is right here.
an event, everyday the children's show is on there too
Javi
The children's show is on there too: two performances in the afternoon.
La función infantil también es allí: dos sesiones por la tarde.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank): two performances in the afternoon.
Options: The festival's on in three days · The concert takes place at ten · The children's show is on there too
Show answer
Javi
The children's show is on there too: two performances in the afternoon.
La función infantil también es allí: dos sesiones por la tarde.
an event, planned the festival's on in three days
Nuria
But the festival's on in three days!
¡Pero el festival es dentro de tres días!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
But (blank)!
Options: the concert takes place at ten · the festival's on in three days · the children's show is on there too
Show answer
Nuria
But the festival's on in three days!
¡Pero el festival es dentro de tres días!
an event, more formal the concert takes place at ten
Elena
Relax. The concert takes place at ten and the singer is right here.
Tranquilos. El concierto tiene lugar a las diez y la cantante está aquí.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Relax. (blank) and the singer is right here.
Options: The festival's on in three days · The concert takes place at ten · The children's show is on there too
Show answer
Elena
Relax. The concert takes place at ten and the singer is right here.
Tranquilos. El concierto tiene lugar a las diez y la cantante está aquí.
an event, formal and passive where's the concert being held?
Nuria
So many activities! Where's the concert being held?
¡Cuántas actividades! ¿Dónde es el concierto?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
So many activities! (blank)?
Options: The children's show is on there too · The festival's on in three days · Where's the concert being held
Show answer
Nuria
So many activities! Where's the concert being held?
¡Cuántas actividades! ¿Dónde es el concierto?
a person or thing: just be the singer is right here
Elena
Relax. The concert takes place at ten and the singer is right here.
Tranquilos. El concierto tiene lugar a las diez y la cantante está aquí.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Relax. The concert takes place at ten and (blank).
Options: the festival's on in three days · the singer is right here · the children's show is on there too
Show answer
Elena
Relax. The concert takes place at ten and the singer is right here.
Tranquilos. El concierto tiene lugar a las diez y la cantante está aquí.
Common mistake
Not hold or holding here. The concert = an event.
So many activities! Where's the concert being held?
¡Cuántas actividades! ¿Dónde es el concierto?
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| an event, everyday | the children's show is on there too |
|---|---|
| an event, planned | the festival's on in three days |
| an event, more formal | the concert takes place at ten |
| an event, formal and passive | where's the concert being held? |
| a person or thing: just be | the singer is right here |
More lines from the story
- NuriaAnd the stage? Where is it now?¿Y el escenario? ¿Dónde está ahora?
- ElenaIt takes place here on Saturday: a rock band from my generation.Es aquí, el sábado: una banda de rock de mi generación.