Learn Swedish: Det putsas bestick bakom kulisserna. - Cutlery is being polished behind the scenes.

This uses the presentational det. Swedish often uses det as a placeholder subject when introducing new, indefinite information (like bestick) with a passive verb. It sounds much more natural than starting the sentence with an indefinite noun.

How is the passive verb putsas formed?

It is the s-passive form of putsa (to polish). To make the present tense s-passive, you take the active present tense (putsar) and replace the final r with an s, giving you putsas (is polished / is being polished).

Is bestick singular or plural in this sentence?

It acts as a plural here, meaning cutlery, though the forms look identical! Bestick is an ett word ending in a consonant, so its indefinite plural form is exactly the same as its singular form (ett bestick, flera bestick).

What is the literal translation of kulisserna?

It literally means the wings or the backdrops on a theater stage. Just like in English, the phrase bakom kulisserna is used as an idiom meaning behind the scenes.