English grammar
Present continuous passive: is/are being + past participle
Understand film-set announcements and use the present continuous passive for what's happening now.
From the scene Quiet, rolling!
In short
For something happening to a thing right now, use is / are being + past participle: a film is being shot.
Your turn
Which one goes with question: what's being + participle??
Options: the streets are being closed · what's being cut? · a film is being shot
Show answer
question: what's being + participle? → what's being cut?
How it works
To say something is happening to a thing right now, use is/are + being + past participle: a film is being shot, your fruit is being eaten.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Rolling? What's being (blank), a ball?
Options: rolled · rolling · roll
Show answer
Rolling? What's being rolled, a ball?
¿Se rueda? ¿Qué se rueda, una pelota?
Good to know
Compare gets + participle for what happens every time: the scene gets cut.
right now: is being + participle a film is being shot
Ramón
No, no. A film is being shot. Then they shout "action!".
No, hombre. Se rueda una película. Luego gritan "¡acción!".
Your turn
What fills the gap?
No, no. (blank). Then they shout "action!".
Options: The streets are being closed · A film is being shot · What's being cut
Show answer
Ramón
No, no. A film is being shot. Then they shout "action!".
No, hombre. Se rueda una película. Luego gritan "¡acción!".
question: what's being + participle? what's being cut?
Tomás
Ah. And when they shout "cut!", what's being cut?
Ah. Y cuando gritan "¡corten!", ¿qué se corta?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Ah. And when they shout "cut!", (blank)?
Options: what's being cut · a film is being shot · the streets are being closed
Show answer
Tomás
Ah. And when they shout "cut!", what's being cut?
Ah. Y cuando gritan "¡corten!", ¿qué se corta?
plural: are being + participle the streets are being closed
every time: gets + participle the scene gets cut
Javi
Tomás, the scene gets cut... and right now your fruit is being eaten!
Tomás, se corta la escena... ¡y ahora mismo se están comiendo tu fruta!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Tomás, (blank)... and right now your fruit is being eaten!
Options: a film is being shot · what's being cut · the scene gets cut
Show answer
Javi
Tomás, the scene gets cut... and right now your fruit is being eaten!
Tomás, se corta la escena... ¡y ahora mismo se están comiendo tu fruta!
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
| right now: is being + participle | a film is being shot |
|---|---|
| question: what's being + participle? | what's being cut? |
| plural: are being + participle | the streets are being closed |
| every time: gets + participle | the scene gets cut |
More lines from the story
- TomásRolling? What's being rolled, a ball?¿Se rueda? ¿Qué se rueda, una pelota?
- RamónOf course. I charge twenty euros a take.Claro que sí. Cobro veinte euros por toma.
- JaviHi. Today I'm carrying the spotlight. And I'm in the shot!Hola. Hoy llevo el foco. ¡Y salgo en el plano!