Doubts about the passive form

[lucale]

Hello everybody.
In the book "English File" by Christina Latham-Koenig and Clive Oxenden, I read these sentences:

"Is your car being repaired today?"
"Many buildings in the city have been damaged by the earthquake".

Why in the first sentence we have "is...being repaired" instead of "has...been repaired" as in the second one?
And, on the other hand, why in the second sentence we have "have been damaged" instead of "are being damaged"?

 

[5jj]

It's the normal difference between the progressive and perfect aspects. Different time periods are being referred to.

 

[teechar]

Hello everybody.

Hello to you too. In future, just ask the question. There's no need for any greetings or introductions.

Why in the first sentence do we have "is...being repaired" instead of "has...been repaired" as in the second one?

"Is being repaired today" can mean:
1- The repairs are happening currently (during the same day of speaking). or
2- The repairs will happen later that day.

"Has been repaired" means the repairs are already done and finished.

And, on the other hand, why in the second sentence do we have "have been damaged" instead of "are being damaged"?

In this context, "are being damaged" means the action (damage) is happening at the time of speaking, whereas "have been damaged" means the damage is already done.

 

[lucale]

...
"Is being repaired today" can mean:
...
2- The repairs will happen later that day.

In case the repairs will happen in the future, I would say:
"Is your car repairing today?"

Am I wrong?

 

[Tarheel]

Yes, you are indeed wrong. Unless of course the car is doing the repairing. In that case you would say the car is repairing itself.

 

[tedmc]

In case the repairs will happen in the future, I would say:
"Is your car repairing today?"

Am I wrong?

You have said in the future, so use will.
Will your car be repaired today?

 

[5jj]

Is your car being repaired today?
Is your car going to be repaired today?

These can also have future reference.

 

[Tdol]

In case the repairs will happen in the future, I would say:
"Is your car repairing today?"

Am I wrong?

The car doesn't repair anything. You could ask something like:

Is the mechanic repairing your car today?

 

[Rover_KE]

lucale, please note that these are questions about the passive - not doubts.

 

[Phaedrus]

In case the repairs will happen in the future, I would say:
"Is your car repairing today?"

Am I wrong?

Historically (200+ years ago), when English still had the so-called passival, that question could indeed have been interpreted as we interpret the passive progressive today. People could say things like "The house is building" and mean what we mean by "The house is being built." When the passive progressive came into common usage, there was actually resistance to it among some speakers. Today, however, the passival does not exist outside of old literature, and it would sound absurd to try to use it in conversation or writing.

 

[Rover_KE]

Today, however, the passival does not exist outside of old literature, and it would sound absurd to try to use it in conversation or writing.

It appears to survive in at least one context (and yes, it does sound absurd):

Oenophiles sometimes say and write things like 'This chateau's 2018 Meursault is already drinking very nicely indeed and will reach its peak in three to four years'.

(Lexico 1.3)

 

[Tdol]

We'll have to wait for self-repairing cars to justify the passival in this context.

 

[Rover_KE]

Some cars can already drive themselves so that might happen sooner than we think.