Being vs. Been: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
"Being" is the present participle of the verb "be" and signifies a current state of existence. "Been," on the other hand, is the past participle of "be" and is employed to describe actions or states that have been completed in the past.
Key Differences
Being is used to describe a current state or continuous action, often in progressive tenses, indicating ongoing existence or action. Been, on the other hand, is used in perfect tenses, referring to states or actions that were completed at some point in the past.
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Nov 16, 2023
Being often implies an active or dynamic state, as in forming part of a present participle construction (e.g., "is being"). Been suggests a passive or static state, as it is linked to experiences or actions that have been concluded.
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Nov 16, 2023
In usage, being can serve as a noun to denote existence itself, whereas been has no such function and is strictly a verb form.
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Being can also imply potential or hypothetical states (e.g., "capable of being"). In contrast, been strictly relates to actual experiences or completed actions in the past.
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Nov 16, 2023
The word being can function independently in a sentence, while been always requires auxiliary verbs to convey its meaning, such as "has," "have," or "had."
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Nov 16, 2023
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Comparison Chart
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Being and Been Definitions
Being
Used in abstract or philosophical contexts.
The concept of being transcends physical form.
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Been
Indicates a state or experience completed in the past.
They had been tired after the journey.
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Being
Existence or life.
The mystery of human being fascinates philosophers.
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Being
Present participle of "be," used in forming continuous tenses.
She is being careful with her words.
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Been
Used to express past actions affecting the present.
He has been working there for years.
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Being
The state or quality of having existence
Technical advances that have only recently come into being.
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Oct 19, 2023
Being
The totality of all things that exist
Theologians who hold that the mind of God is the source of all being.
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Being
An individual form of life; an organism
"We [humans] are the only beings who are aware that we shall die" (Seyyed Hossein Nasr).
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Been
Inflection of be.
He been had that job.
We been knew they was doing this.
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Being
An imaginary, conjectural, or supernatural creature
Extraterrestrial beings.
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Being
All the qualities constituting one that exists; the essence
The very being of human nature.
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Being
One's basic or essential nature
"[My grandfather's] face, words and gestures are a permanent part of my being" (Duane Nitatum).
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Been
The past participle of Be. In old authors it is also the pr. tense plural of Be. See 1st Bee.
Assembled been a senate grave and stout.
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Oct 19, 2023
Being
The state or fact of existence, consciousness, or life, or something in such a state.
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Being
(philosophy) One's basic nature, or the qualities thereof; essence or personality.
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Being
Existing.
A man who is being strangled.
While the article on Burns was being written.
Fresh experience is always being gained.
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Oct 19, 2023
Being
Existence, as opposed to nonexistence; state or sphere of existence.
In Him we live, and move, and have our being.
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Oct 19, 2023
Being
That which exists in any form, whether it be material or spiritual, actual or ideal; living existence, as distinguished from a thing without life; as, a human being; spiritual beings.
What a sweet being is an honest mind !
A Being of infinite benevolence and power.
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Oct 19, 2023
Being
Lifetime; mortal existence.
Claudius, thouWast follower of his fortunes in his being.
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Being
An abode; a cottage.
It was a relief to dismiss them [Sir Roger's servants] into little beings within my manor.
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Being
Since; inasmuch as.
And being you haveDeclined his means, you have increased his malice.
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Being
The state or fact of existing;
A point of view gradually coming into being
Laws in existence for centuries
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Being
A living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Can "been" stand alone in a sentence?
No, "been" requires auxiliary verbs like "has" or "have."
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Nov 16, 2023
Can "being" imply potential states?
Yes, "being" can suggest potential or hypothetical states.
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Nov 16, 2023
What is the main use of "being"?
"Being" is used as the present participle of "be," indicating ongoing states or actions.
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Nov 16, 2023
Can "being" be a noun?
Yes, "being" can be a noun referring to existence or life.
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Nov 16, 2023
Does "been" have a noun form?
No, "been" is only a verb form and doesn't function as a noun.
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Nov 16, 2023
Is "been" used in present tense?
No, "been" is used in perfect tenses to indicate past actions or states.
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Nov 16, 2023
Does "being" indicate completed actions?
No, "being" implies ongoing or continuous actions.
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Nov 16, 2023
Is "being" used in philosophical contexts?
Yes, "being" is commonly used in philosophical or abstract contexts.
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Nov 16, 2023
Does "been" always require a helping verb?
Yes, "been" always needs a helping verb like "has" or "have."
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Nov 16, 2023
Is "being" ever used in perfect tenses?
No, "being" is not used in perfect tenses.
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Nov 16, 2023
Is "been" used to indicate ongoing actions?
No, "been" refers to actions or states that are completed.
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Nov 16, 2023
Is "been" ever used in continuous tenses?
No, "been" is not used in continuous tenses.
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Nov 16, 2023
Does "been" suggest a passive state?
Yes, "been" often suggests a passive or completed state.
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Nov 16, 2023
What is a common mistake with "being" and "been"?
A common mistake is confusing their use in tense structures.
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Nov 16, 2023
Is "been" related to experience?
Yes, "been" often relates to past experiences or states.
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Nov 16, 2023
Can "being" imply an active state?
Yes, "being" often implies an active or dynamic state.
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Nov 16, 2023
Is "being" used to describe future states?
No, "being" is not typically used to describe future states.
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Nov 16, 2023
Can "being" refer to the essence of a person?
Yes, "being" can refer to the nature or essence of a person.
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Nov 16, 2023
Can "being" and "been" be used interchangeably?
No, they have different uses and cannot be used interchangeably.
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Nov 16, 2023
Can "been" indicate a change?
Yes, "been" can suggest a change or transformation in the past.
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Nov 16, 2023
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Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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