Have been

Question

HiI have been / have reviewing the incident. What's the difference between have been and have only.Thanks

Avangi · Accepted Answer

The second is ungrammatical. You need to use the "other" participle, "I have reviewed the incident."

(Have been reviewing is present perfect progressive tense; Have reviewed is present perfect tense.)

In the first case, the action is continuing; in the second case, the action has been (recently) completed.

(Reviewing is called the present participle of the verb to review. Reviewed is called the past participle.)

CalifJim · Answer

The auxiliary verb have (and all its forms) can only be followed by a past participle:

have seen; have done; has reviewed; have wanted; have thrown; has been; had known

The auxiliary verb be (and all its forms) can be followed by a present or a past participle:

is seeing; was doing; am going; were throwing; are jumping

is seen; was done; were thrown; are reviewed

So the only form of be that can go after have is been (the past participle of be).
have been; has been; had been

have/has/had been counts as a form of be and, like other forms of be, can be followed by a present or past participle:

have been seeing; had been going; had been jumping; has been watching

have been seen; had been found; has been done; have been reviewed
___

So have reviewing is not correct.

CJ

Have been

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