been
Been (verb) means the past participle of "be," used to form perfect and passive verb tenses. Example: “I have been to Paris twice.”
verb
1
The past participle of "be," used to form perfect and passive verb tenses.
"I have been to Paris twice."
"The report has been finished since Friday."
"We're safe, but the car's been totaled."
"All the fries have been eaten."
"Have you ever been to a concert in the open air?"
How to use been
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe form of "be" you use after "have/has/had" to talk about experiences or completed states.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "gone" — "I have been to Rome" means you visited and came back; "I have gone to Rome" implies you're still there.
Easily confused with
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Etymology
From Old English beon, the infinitive form of "be," which later shifted to serve as its past participle.
Rhymes for been
See all rhymes for been →Frequently asked questions
What does “been” mean?
The word “been” means the past participle of "be," used to form perfect and passive verb tenses. In plain terms, the form of "be" you use after "have/has/had" to talk about experiences or completed states.
How do you use “been” in a sentence?
Here is “been” used in a sentence: “I have been to Paris twice.”
What part of speech is “been”?
“Been” is a verb.
Where does the word “been” come from?
The word “been” comes from Old English. From Old English beon, the infinitive form of "be," which later shifted to serve as its past participle.
Is “been” a common word?
“Been” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between been and being?
"Been" is the past participle of "be" and follows have, has, or had ("she has been busy"), while "being" is the present participle and follows am, is, are, was, or were ("he is being careful"). They are never interchangeable: "I have been" is correct, but "I have being" is not.
What is the difference between "have been" and "has been"?
Both form the present perfect of "be"; the choice depends on the subject. Use "has been" with he, she, it, or a singular noun ("the shop has been closed") and "have been" with I, you, we, they, or plural nouns ("they have been away").
What is the difference between "have been to" and "have gone to"?
"Have been to" means someone visited a place and has come back ("I have been to Paris twice"). "Have gone to" means they travelled there and are still away ("she has gone to Paris" implies she is there now).
Is "I been there" grammatically correct?
In standard English, "been" always needs an auxiliary verb — have, has, or had — so the standard form is "I have been there" or the contraction "I've been there." "I been there" occurs in casual speech and some dialects but is considered nonstandard in writing.
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