Difference Between Been and Being with Examples

Table Summarizing the Difference in ‘Been’ and ‘Being’

This table highlights the key differences in usage and function between "been" and "being."

Examples of ‘Been’ and ‘Being’

Examples of "Been"

1. Present Perfect Tense: "She has been to Italy several times." (Describes an experience up to the present moment.)

2. Past Perfect Tense: "By the time we arrived, they had been waiting for an hour." (Describes an action completed before another past action.)

3. Future Perfect Tense: "By next year, he will have been working here for a decade." (Describes an action that will be completed before a specific future time.)

4. Present Perfect Continuous: "I have been studying all night for the exam." (Describes an action that started in the past and is still continuing or recently stopped.)

5. Past Perfect Continuous: "They had been playing football before it started to rain." (Describes an ongoing action that was completed before another past event.)

Examples of "Being"

1. Present Continuous Tense: "She is being very helpful today." (Describes an ongoing action or state in the present.)

2. Past Continuous Tense: "They were being followed by the police during the chase." (Describes an ongoing action in the past.)

3. Passive Voice: "The cake is being decorated by the chef." (Describes an action that is being done to the subject.)

4. Present Continuous Passive: "The documents are being reviewed by the committee." (Describes the ongoing process of something happening to the subject.)

5. Past Continuous Passive: "The house was being renovated when we moved in." (Describes an ongoing action in the past that was happening to the subject.)

Test your Understanding of the Difference between Been and Being

Exercises on "Been" and "Being"

1. Complete the following sentences with either "been" or "being":

1. She has __________ very helpful throughout the project.

2. By the end of the year, they will have __________ working at the company for ten years.

3. They were __________ very patient during the long wait.

4. I have __________ to the new restaurant already.

5. The house is __________ painted by professionals this week.

2. Identify and correct the mistakes in the following sentences:

1. He has being to London several times.

2. They were been waiting for you when you arrived.

3. The car is been repaired at the garage.

4. She is been very tired since the marathon.

5. By the time we get there, they will have been finished the project.

3. Rewrite the following sentences using the appropriate form of "been" or "being":

1. The report was reviewed by the manager. (Use "being")

2. They have completed the assignment. (Use "been")

3. She was waiting for you at the café. (Use "being")

4. By next week, I will have finished my studies. (Use "been")

5. The cake is being prepared for the party. (Use "being")

4. Match each sentence on the left with the correct explanation on the right:

Check the Answers Below:

1. Fill in the Blanks

1. She has been very helpful throughout the project.

2. By the end of the year, they will have been working at the company for ten years.

3. They were being very patient during the long wait.

4. I have been to the new restaurant already.

5. The house is being painted by professionals this week.

2. Correct the Errors

1. He has been to London several times.

2. They were being waiting for you when you arrived.

3. The car is being repaired at the garage.

4. She has been very tired since the marathon.

5. By the time we get there, they will have been finished the project.

3. Sentence Transformation

1. The report is being reviewed by the manager.

2. They have been completed the assignment. (Correction: They have completed the assignment.)

3. She was being very tired since the marathon. (Correction: She had been very tired since the marathon.)

4. By next week, I will have been finished my studies. (Correction: By next week, I will have finished my studies.)

5. The cake is being prepared for the party. (Correct as is)

4. Match the Sentence

Takeaways on This Page:

On this page, we've explored the difference between "been" and "being," focusing on their usage in various grammatical contexts. "Been" is used in perfect tenses to denote completed actions or states, while "being" serves in continuous tenses and passive voice to describe ongoing actions or states. The exercises provided help reinforce understanding by applying these concepts through fill-in-the-blanks, error correction, sentence transformation, and creation tasks. Mastery of these distinctions enhances clarity and precision in both writing and speaking.