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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Perfect

How would you classify the tense of the verb in this sentence: "I have been happy." Is "have been" a (present) passive perfect or is it being used as a linking verb? If it is a linking verb, does it still qualify as being in the perfect tense/aspect? 

Thanks,
Matt
  

Top answer

In English, the verb "to be" is always a linking verb no matter what form it appears in. So, "am", "are", "was", "will be" "have been" are all forms of the verb "to be", therefore, they are all linking verbs. The fact that it is a linking verb is independent of its tense, or the name of the tense.

— Rizzy

  • In English, the verb "to be" is always a linking verb no matter what form it appears in.
  • So, "am", "are", "was", "will be" "have been" are all forms of the verb "to be", therefore, they are all linking verbs.
  • The fact that it is a linking verb is independent of its tense, or the name of the tense.
  • So, in your example, "have been" is a present perfect, not a passive.
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1 Answers
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In English, the verb "to be" is always a linking verb no matter what form it appears in. So, "am", "are", "was", "will be" "have been" are all forms of the verb "to be", therefore, they are all linking verbs.

The fact that it is a linking verb is independent of its tense, or the name of the tense. So, in your example, "have been" is a present perfect, not a passive.
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