What's the Difference Between 'Been' and 'Being'?
In this blog post we look at when to use been and when to use being.
'Been' or 'Being'?
"Been" and "being" are forms of the verb "be," which is used to indicate the state or existence of something. However, they are used in slightly different ways in sentences.
"Been" is the past participle of the verb "be," and it is used to form the present perfect and past perfect tenses.
"Being" is the present participle of the verb "be," and it is used to form the continuous tense.
"Being" can also be used as a noun and refers to a living creature or a person, or to the nature, essence, or existence of something.
To sum up, "been" is used to form the present perfect and past perfect tenses of the verb “to be”, while "being" is used to form the continuous tenses as well as referring to living persons or the nature of existence.
Here are some example sentences to clarify the difference between “been” and “being”:
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I have been waiting for you for hours. (This is the present perfect tense, which indicates an action that started in the past and continues up to the present.)
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He had been working on the project for weeks before he finally finished it. (This is the past perfect tense, which indicates an action that was completed in the past before another action took place.)
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I am being patient while I wait for you. (This is the present continuous tense, which indicates an action that is happening at the present time.)
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He was being very careful when he built the model. (This is the past continuous tense, which indicates an action that was happening at a specific time in the past.)
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The beings that lived on this planet long ago are a mystery to us. (In this sentence, "beings" refers to living creatures.)
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He is a kind and compassionate being. (In this sentence, "being" refers to a person.)
Examples of Been in a Sentence
Here are ten example sentences using the word "been":
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I have been waiting for you for hours.
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She has been studying for the test all week.
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They have been traveling for six months.
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He had been working on the project for weeks before he finally finished it.
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We have been friends for as long as I can remember.
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She had been feeling sick for a few days before she went to the doctor.
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They had been planning their trip for months before they finally left.
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I have been thinking about what you said.
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He had been living in that house for over 20 years before he moved out.
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She has been practicing the piano for years.
Examples of Being in a Sentence
Here are ten example sentences using the word "being" as both a verb and a noun:
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I am being patient while I wait for you. (In this sentence, "being" is a verb and it forms the present continuous tense.)
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He was being very careful when he built the model. (In this sentence, "being" is a verb and it forms the past continuous tense.)
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He is a kind and compassionate being. (In this sentence, "being" is a noun and it refers to a person.)
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The beings that lived on this planet long ago are a mystery to us. (In this sentence, "beings" is a noun and it refers to living creatures.)
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The being of the universe is a topic of much debate among philosophers. (In this sentence, "being" is a noun and it refers to the nature or essence of something.)
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She is being irresponsible by not paying her bills on time. (In this sentence, "being" is a verb and it forms the present continuous tense.)
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They are being selfish by not sharing the food. (In this sentence, "being" is a verb and it forms the present continuous tense.)
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He was being rude and disrespectful when he spoke to her. (In this sentence, "being" is a verb and it forms the past continuous tense.)
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She is being honest when she tells him the truth. (In this sentence, "being" is a verb and it forms the present continuous tense.)
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They are being kind and considerate to their guests. (In this sentence, "being" is a verb and it forms the present continuous tense.)
