English grammar
Running late / cancelled: train problems
Understand station announcements and complain politely.
From the scene The train is running late
In short
For an ongoing delay, say the train is running late. For a decision, use is + past participle: it's cancelled.
Your turn
Which one goes with cancelled?
Options: make a complaint · is cancelled · is running late
Show answer
cancelled → is cancelled
How it works
For an ongoing delay, English says the train is running late (be + -ing).
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
The announcement (blank) thirty minutes.
Options: saying · says · say
Show answer
The announcement says thirty minutes.
El anuncio dice treinta minutos.
Good to know
For a finished decision, use be + past participle: the train is cancelled. Don't say "the train comes with delay": say it is running late.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Wait... now they're saying it's (blank)!
Clue: passive meaning: someone called it off
Options: cancelling · cancelled · cancel
Show answer
Wait... now they're saying it's cancelled!
Espera... ¡ahora dicen que está cancelado!
Good to know
After is / are, use the past participle (cancelled), not the base verb.
running late is running late
cancelled is cancelled
Your turn
What goes with is cancelled?
Options: a complaint · cancelled · running late
Show answer
is cancelled → cancelled
a complaint make a complaint
Elena
Cancelled? I want to make a complaint.
¿Cancelado? Quiero hacer una reclamación.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Cancelled? I want to (blank).
Options: is running late · is cancelled · make a complaint
Show answer
Elena
Cancelled? I want to make a complaint.
¿Cancelado? Quiero hacer una reclamación.
question Excuse me, is it cancelled or delayed?
Your turn
What goes with Excuse me, is it cancelled or delayed??
Options: question · running late · cancelled
Show answer
Excuse me, is it cancelled or delayed? → question
Common mistake
Not run or runs here. It's happening right now.
Listen. The train's running late.
Escuchad. El tren va con retraso.
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
| running late | is running late |
|---|---|
| cancelled | is cancelled |
| a complaint | make a complaint |
| question | Excuse me, is it cancelled or delayed? |
More lines from the story
- NuriaThe announcement says thirty minutes.El anuncio dice treinta minutos.
- NuriaListen. The train's running late.Escuchad. El tren va con retraso.
- NuriaWait... now they're saying it's cancelled!Espera... ¡ahora dicen que está cancelado!
- JaviRunning late? How late?¿Con retraso? ¿Cuánto retraso?
- ElenaThirty minutes! This is a disaster.¡Treinta minutos! Esto es un desastre.