subject + am/is/are + being + past participleUse this for an action happening now when the subject receives the action.
Passive Continuous
B1Use Passive Continuous for actions in progress when the subject receives the action: is being repaired, was being made.
What you'll learn
- Build present forms with am/is/are being + past participle.
- Build past forms with was/were being + past participle.
- Keep the verb in the past participle after being.
- Choose this form for actions in progress when the subject receives the action.
- Recognize time markers that fit ongoing passive actions.
Structure
subject + was/were + being + past participleUse this for an action that was in progress in the past when the subject received the action.
Build a sentence
Subject
Verb
The roomisbeing repaired
The room is being repaired now.
Singular subject → is being + past participle.
When to use
Happening now
Use it for something in progress right now when the subject receives the action. The office is being cleaned now.
In progress at a past moment
Use it for an unfinished action in progress at a specific past time. The bridge was being repaired at 8 p.m.
Focus on the receiver
Use it when the result is not the focus and the doer is unknown or unimportant. New apartments are being built near the station.
Markers
nowright nowat the momentcurrentlytodayat 8 p.m.at that time
Spelling
regular verb
→ base + edclean → cleanedirregular verb
→ special formmake → madeafter being
→ use past participlebeing repairedCommon mistakes
Wrong
The road is repaired now.
Correct
The road is being repaired now.
Without being, this changes to a simple passive, not an action in progress.
Wrong
The houses is being painted.
Correct
The houses are being painted.
Plural subjects take are in the present continuous passive.
Wrong
The reports was being checked.
Correct
The reports were being checked.
Plural subjects take were in the past continuous passive.
Wrong
The bridge is being repairing today.
Correct
The bridge is being repaired today.
After being, use the past participle, not the -ing form.
Wrong
The meal was being cook when we arrived.
Correct
The meal was being cooked when we arrived.
After being, the verb must be a past participle.
Common misconceptions
❝ If I use the passive continuous, the action is finished. ❞
Passive continuous shows an action in progress, not a finished result.
❝ I can drop being because is repaired and is being repaired mean the same thing. ❞
They do not mean the same thing. Is repaired is simple passive; is being repaired shows the action is happening now.
Skills in this rule (5)
IS_AM_ARE_BEING_PAST_PARTICIPLEw5Build the present continuous passive with am/is/are being + past participle
Use this form for an action happening now when the subject receives the action. Choose am, is, or are from the subject, then add being + past participle.
WAS_WERE_BEING_PAST_PARTICIPLEw5Build the past continuous passive with was/were being + past participle
Use this form for an action that was in progress in the past when the subject received the action. Choose was or were from the subject, then add being + past participle.
KEEP_PAST_PARTICIPLE_AFTER_BEINGw5Keep the main verb in the past participle after being
After being, use the past participle, not the -ing form and not the base verb. The action word stays in passive form: being repaired, being made, being cleaned.
ACTION_IN_PROGRESS_RECEIVES_THE_ACTIONw4Choose the passive continuous for an action in progress when the subject receives the action
Use this form when the action is ongoing and the focus is on the thing or person affected by the action, not on the doer. Time cues like now, at the moment, and at 8 p.m. often fit.
PICK_PROGRESS_MARKERSw3Recognize markers that fit passive continuous forms
Markers like now, at the moment, right now, and at that time often point to an action in progress. They help you choose is being or was being forms.