The uses of been

Question

Hello, for all the generous members of the world’s largest English language.

I hope that everyone is fine. I have a little misunderstanding of been ‘s use . however , I know it’s the participle of be , but my problem is that sometimes I find been with ing verbs and sometimes with ed verbs, so that makes me puzzled.

Ex : more than 20 people had been killed.

Ex : more than 20 people had killed.

I want to know the difference between the two example, also the difference between these 3 clauses:

I have been working there for 3 years.

I have been worked …………………

I have worked …………………….. .

I am waiting for your invaluable answers.

Tania77maria · Accepted Answer

"been" is the past participle form of the verb to be. So I would say that the main function is to form perfect tenses of the verb to BE. Within perfect tenses you can find present perfect (I have been ), present perfect continuous (I have been speaking), past perfect (I had been), past perfect continuous (I had been speaking) ,

Ex : more than 20 people had been killed. (this is passive) If you change this sentence to active voice, it would be:

They had killed more than .......More than 20 people had been killed.

Ex : more than 20 people had killed. (this is active voice)

So the main difference between the examples above is the subject, who does the action and who receives it. So in the first example the 20 people receive the action, whether the second example the 20 people produce or carry out the action. (Hope you understand my explanation)

difference between these 3 clauses:

I have been working there for 3 years. (here we emphasize the duration of the action, not the result)

I have been worked ???………………… (for me, it doesn't make much sense; maybe you want to say I have been working)

I have worked …………………….. .(this action has stopped recently, time is not important. When we use a past time expression, the past simple is required. Ex: I worked yesterday. It is not correct to say I have worked yesterday.)

Hope it helps.

Mudclay · Answer

Hello! Here's my little contribution. But i strongly suggest to wait for the authorities.

I agree with what tania77maria said. BEEN is the past participle of "to be". We normally use BEEN for perfect tenses (simple and progressive).

PASSIVE VOICE - My room has been cleaned.

ACTIVE VOICE - I have cleaned my room.

Difference between these three clauses:

I have been working there for three years. (present perfect continuous) Meaning until now you are still working there.

I have been worked there. (i haven't heard this) Maybe you meant to say "I have worked there" (present perfect) or "I worked there" (simple past).

Let's wait for the authorities. Thank you!

Valquiriarochat · Answer

Very good, This was a doubt mine too, but now is very clear for me. =)

Thanks a lot!

Anonymous · Answer

sir can u plz tell me where to use been properlyand tell me the diff b/w these two sentences 1 ur order have been placed 2 ur order have placedone more qus. the sentence =r u allright comes under which type of present tense shall be very thankfull of urs

Cat red · Answer

I have been working for 3 years means ,still you are working

2 I have been worked means you have worked earlier there not now

3 I have worked means .. Recently you have left the job..

Hope you have understood.

Anonymous · Answer

I have lived in this house for twenty years. (I still live in this house) Living continues

I have not seen Tom for ages. ( But I see him now.) Not continuing

1) War, fight or someone killed 20 people. ie 20 people died.

2) 20 people killed someone or group of people. This happened in the past to the past

The uses of been

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions