forms of "be"

Question

Hello ppl,I am learning basic English grammar these days. I have finished up doing tenses thoroughly but confused at some places regarding usage of has/have with different forms of "be".Usage of forms of 'be': I am bit confused with the usage of Past Participle form of be i.e. been specifically. For example: 1) "Like most of the peoples who shifted to Delhi rather than been born here." In this sentence past participle of be is used but what is the basic tense used.2) "I have been to India." This sentence is a simple Present Perfect Tense in which past participle of be is used OR it is the specific usage of been like any other word, if so then please mention some other situations also. 3) Similarly please put some light on usage of  "being"I tried searching tutorial on net but could not find any which helped me. Any help would be appreciated.Thanks.

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Hello Sunilghai-- and welcome to English Forums. You can start your English learning by spelling properly: the word is spelt 'people'.

1) "Like most of the peoples who shifted to Delhi rather than been born here." -- This phrase is incorrect; it should read 'like most of the people who moved to Delhi rather than being born here'. Being is the present participle used to introduce a non-finite clause.

2) "I have been to India." This is the present perfect of be (and been is the past participle), where be means go.

3) Similarly please put some light on usage of "being"-- use being like any present participle:

Continuous (Progressive) forms: I am being funny; he is just not laughing.
Gerund: Being funny is a way of life. My hobby is making people laugh.
Nonfinite clauses: Being ignorant, I couldn't answer any of the questions. My teacher, seeing my distress, helped me a bit.

Sunilghai · Answer

Thanks for the help Mister Micawber.

It means I should work hard on The participle's...
"I have been to India." This is the present perfect of be, where be means go..Could you please mention some other meanings of "be" where we can use it?
Thanks.

Mister Micawber · Answer

The uses of be are numerous, Sunilghai:

–verb (used without object)

1.	to exist or live: Shakespeare's “To be or not to be” is the ultimate question.

2.	to take place; happen; occur: The wedding was last week.

3.	to occupy a place or position: The book is on the table.

4.	to continue or remain as before: Let things be.

5.	to belong; attend; befall: May good fortune be with you.

6.	(used as a copula to connect the subject with its predicate adjective, or predicate nominative, in order to describe, identify, or amplify the subject): Martha is tall. John is president. This is she.

7.	(used as a copula to introduce or form interrogative or imperative sentences): Is that right? Be quiet! Don't be facetious.

–auxiliary verb

8.	(used with the present participle of another verb to form the progressive tense): I am waiting.

9.	(used with the present participle or infinitive of the principal verb to indicate future action): She is visiting there next week. He is to see me today.

10.

(used with the past participle of another verb to form the passive voice): The date was fixed. It must be done.

11.

(used in archaic or literary constructions with some intransitive verbs to form the perfect tense): He is come. Agamemnon to the wars is gone.

forms of "be"

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