BEING and BEEN

by Bernadette
(Abuja, Nigeria)

Hello,

I would like to know when and how to use the words BEING and BEEN. I usually mix them up.

What is the best way to know when to use each one?

Bernadette


Answer:

BEING and BEEN are different forms of the verb BE.

The progressive form of the verb BE is BEING.

This means the action is ongoing (continuing).

Examples:

"The little boy is being naughty."

"She was being rude, but then she apologized."

"They are being tricked."


The perfect form of the verb BE is BEEN.

This means the action is complete (finished).

Examples:

"The little boy has been naughty."

"She has been rude, but now she apologizes."

"They have been tricked."


One good way to remember these differences is to note that BEING is used with ongoing actions (like other verbs ending with ING: drinking, walking, sleeping), while BEEN is used with completed actions (like other verbs ending with EN: eaten, taken, and others not necessarily ending with EN).