What is been?
Been is the past participle form of the verb “be” and is used to indicate a completed action or state in the past. It is commonly used in the perfect tenses and in passive voice constructions.
Examples of been:
1. She has been working on her project all day.
2. I have been to Paris twice.
3. He had been studying for hours when he finally took a break.
Uses of been:
1. Perfect tense: “I have been studying for my exam.”
2. Passive voice: “The book has been written by a famous author.”
3. Expressing experience: “She has been to Japan many times.”
What is being?
Being is the present participle form of the verb “be” and is used to indicate an ongoing action or state in the present or future. It can also be used as a noun to refer to existence or the nature of something.
Examples of being:
1. She is being very helpful today.
2. They are being interviewed for the job.
3. Being kind is important to him.
Uses of being:
1. Continuous tense: “I am being careful.”
2. Describing behavior or actions: “They are being honest about their mistake.”
3. Existence or nature: “Being a doctor requires years of training.”
Differences Table:
| Difference Area | Been | Being |
|---|---|---|
| Verb form | Past participle | Present participle |
| Tense | Past | Present/Future |
| Action/state | Completed | Ongoing |
| Usage | Perfect tenses, passive voice | Continuous tenses, behavior descriptions |
| Example | “She has been studying for hours.” | “He is being very helpful.” |
| Function | Indicates a past completed action | Indicates an ongoing action or state |
| Noun form | No noun form | Can be used as a noun (“Being kind is important.”) |
| Time frame | Past | Present/Future |
| Passive voice | Commonly used | Not commonly used |
| Describing behavior | Not commonly used | Commonly used |
Conclusion:
In summary, “been” is the past participle form used to indicate a completed action or state in the past, commonly used in perfect tenses and passive voice. On the other hand, “being” is the present participle form used to indicate an ongoing action or state in the present or future, commonly used in continuous tenses and behavior descriptions.
Knowledge Check:
1. What is the verb form of “been”?
Answer: Past participle.
2. Which tense does “being” belong to?
Answer: Present/Future.
3. What does “been” indicate?
Answer: A completed action or state in the past.
4. When is “being” commonly used?
Answer: In continuous tenses and behavior descriptions.
5. Can “being” be used as a noun?
Answer: Yes, it can be used to refer to existence or the nature of something.
6. Does “being” commonly appear in passive voice constructions?
Answer: No, it is not commonly used in passive voice.
7. Give an example of a sentence using “been”.
Answer: “She has been working on her project all day.”
8. What is the time frame for “been”?
Answer: Past.
9. Which form of “be” indicates an ongoing action or state?
Answer: “Being”.
10. Describe the function of “been”.
Answer: It indicates a past completed action or state.
Related Topics:
– Differences between “was” and “were”
– Understanding the perfect tenses in English
– Active voice vs. passive voice in English grammar
