Been vs. Being

Attribute	Been	Being
Definition	past participle of the verb "be"	present participle of the verb "be"
Usage	Used to indicate a completed action or state	Used to indicate an ongoing action or state
Tense	Past tense	Present tense
Examples	"I have been to Paris."	"I am being careful."
Passive Voice	Used in passive voice constructions	Not used in passive voice constructions
Part of Speech	Verb form	Verb form

Introduction

When it comes to the English language, understanding the nuances of different words and their usage is crucial. Two such words that often cause confusion are "been" and "being." While they may sound similar and are both forms of the verb "to be," they have distinct attributes and functions. In this article, we will explore the differences between "been" and "being" to help you use them correctly in your writing and conversations.

Definition and Usage of Been

"Been" is the past participle of the verb "to be." It is used to indicate a completed action or state that occurred in the past. This word is commonly used in perfect tenses, such as the present perfect and past perfect. For example:

• I have been to Paris. (Present perfect)
• She had been studying all night. (Past perfect)

As seen in the examples, "been" is used to express experiences or actions that have happened before the present moment or a specific past event. It emphasizes the completion of an action or state.

Definition and Usage of Being

"Being" is the present participle of the verb "to be." It is used to indicate an ongoing action or state in the present or future. Unlike "been," which refers to completed actions, "being" focuses on actions or states that are currently happening or will happen. For instance:

• He is being very helpful. (Present continuous)
• They will be being interviewed tomorrow. (Future continuous)

In these examples, "being" is used to describe ongoing actions or states, highlighting their temporary nature. It is often used in progressive tenses to convey an action in progress or a state that is not permanent.

Usage Examples

To further understand the differences between "been" and "being," let's explore some usage examples:

1. Been

a) I have been to Japan twice. (Present perfect)

b) She had been working at the company for five years before she got promoted. (Past perfect)

c) They have been friends since childhood. (Present perfect)

d) Has he been to the new restaurant? (Present perfect)

e) We had been waiting for hours when the bus finally arrived. (Past perfect)

In these examples, "been" is used to indicate completed actions or states that happened in the past. It emphasizes the experience or duration of the action.

2. Being

a) She is being very patient with the children. (Present continuous)

b) They will be being interviewed by the panel. (Future continuous)

c) He was being silly during the meeting. (Past continuous)

d) Are you being honest with me? (Present continuous)

e) The students will be being taught by a renowned professor. (Future continuous)

In these examples, "being" is used to describe ongoing actions or states in the present, future, or past. It emphasizes the temporary nature of the action or state.

Additional Considerations

While "been" and "being" have distinct attributes, it is important to note that they are both forms of the verb "to be." Therefore, they share some similarities in their usage. For example, both "been" and "being" can be used as auxiliary verbs in passive voice constructions. Consider the following examples:

• The book has been read by many people. (Passive voice with "been")
• The book is being read by many people. (Passive voice with "being")

In these sentences, "been" and "being" are used to form the passive voice, indicating that the book is the object of the action rather than the subject.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "been" and "being" may sound similar, but they have distinct attributes and functions. "Been" is the past participle used to indicate completed actions or states in the past, while "being" is the present participle used to describe ongoing actions or states in the present or future. Understanding the differences between these two words will help you use them correctly and effectively in your writing and conversations. So, next time you find yourself wondering whether to use "been" or "being," remember their unique roles and choose the appropriate one based on the context and tense of your sentence.