Being told, to be told

  • B2 · Upper-intermediate
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min
  • being + past participle

The passive after verbs and prepositions: being + past participle (I love being recognized, I'm tired of being asked) and to be + past participle (I just want to be left alone). The student reads an actress's honest piece about fame, sorts and builds the two forms, fixes the usual errors, and gives a talk-show interview as a famous person.

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being toldto be toldbeing noticed

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2In this lesson
  3. 3Reading: what nobody tells you about fameReading comprehension
  4. 4What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  5. 5Find being and to beGrammar exercise
  6. 6being done, to be doneGrammar rule
  7. 7being or to be?Grammar exercise
  8. 8Choose the right formGrammar exercise
  9. 9The cat's diaryGrammar exercise
  10. 10Find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  11. 11Questions for your teacherGrammar exercise
  12. 12Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  13. 13The talk showSpeaking practice
  14. 14About youGrammar exercise
  15. 15Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: five starsGrammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: which sentence is correct?Grammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: build the sentencesGrammar exercise
  4. 4Homework: famous for a yearDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. Which famous person would you most like to meet? What would you ask them?
  2. Do you like having your photo taken, or do you hide when someone takes out a camera?
  3. How do you feel when someone corrects your English in front of other people?

Grammar rule

being done, to be done

You know that some verbs and words are followed by -ing and others by to + verb. When the person is not the one who does the action (it is done to them), use the passive form: being + past participle or to be + past participle.

After…Active: the person does itPassive: it is done to the person
verbs with -ing: enjoy, mind, avoid, miss, risk, keepMy dog enjoys chasing birds.My dog enjoys being brushed.
prepositions: of, about, for, without, after, before, instead ofHe got into the club without paying.He got into the club without being noticed.
-ing as the subjectTeaching a class of thirty is hard work.Being taught by your own mother is strange.
verbs with to: want, need, expect, hope, refuse, deserve, would likeThe kids want to help.The kids want to be included.
adjectives: happy, glad, lucky, proud, thrilledWe were lucky to find a table.We were lucky to be seated by the window.

The negative and questions

  • Put not before being or to: He was hurt by not being thanked. The players asked not to be filmed in the locker room. (American English also says to not be filmed.)
  • Questions: Do you enjoy being surprised? Would you like to be met at the airport?

Watch out

  • being (with -ing) is not been: I'm sick of been followed → I'm sick of being followed. And after to, use be: to been → to be.
  • After being and to be, the past participle: being forget → being forgotten; to be pay → to be paid.
  • Active or passive changes the meaning: I don't like telling people what to do (I tell them). I don't like being told what to do (they tell me).
  • like, love, hate, prefer and can't stand take both forms in American English: I love being spoiled = I love to be spoiled.
  • Sometimes to is a preposition, so -ing follows: look forward to, be used to, get used to + being: She's used to being stared at.

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