se passer
The English phrase 'going on' is translated into French as se passer.
The verb se passer is used to describe an event unfolding. If you want to ask 'What's going on?' when observing a situation or a commotion, the standard phrase is Qu'est-ce qui se passe ? You can also use the phrase être en cours to translate to 'to be in progress' when describing what is currently happening.
Which one should you use?
While se passer is used for 'going on' in the sense of an event unfolding, it is often interchangeable with arriver (to happen) in many contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
To express the continuous aspect of 'going on' (the action currently in progress), use the construction en train de followed by the verb.
Did you know?
- The phrase en train de used for ongoing actions literally translates to 'in the coach of', reflecting an old image of being in transit.
- If something is 'going on' in the sense of a romantic affair, French speakers use avoir une liaison rather than se passer.
- The phrase Qu'est-ce qui se passe ? is frequently shortened to Il se passe quoi ? in casual spoken French, which flips the standard word order.
Examples in context
- Comprends-tu ce qui est en train de se passer ?Do you understand what's going on?This sentence is useful for asking if someone understands the current situation using se passer.Tatoeba #4995188 by sacredceltic, translation #2333261 by Hybrid
- Quelque chose de suspect est en train de se passer.There's something fishy going on.This sentence is useful for noting that something suspicious is occurring using se passer.Tatoeba #1533525 by sacredceltic, translation #1530905 by CK
- Ne vois-tu pas ce qui est en train de se passer ?Don't you see what's going on?This sentence is useful for questioning if someone notices the current situation using se passer.Tatoeba #3961696 by sacredceltic, translation #3731233 by CM
- Le spectacle se déroule dans le théâtre.The show is going on in the theater.
- Le festival a lieu chaque été.The festival goes on every summer.
- Qu'est-ce qui se passe ici ?What's going on here?
- La réunion est en cours.The meeting is going on.
- Le film est en cours de diffusion.The movie is currently playing.
- 11 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
