been

Auxiliary verb form

Been is the past participle of be.

Like other past participles, it can form part of a verb phrase (such as has been seen or had been talking).

Unlike many past participles, been is never a standalone adjective.

This means that it is nearly always paired with a form of have to express a perfect tense of be.

experience

through

From start to finish

livedExisted or dwelt
experiencedHaving practical knowledge gained
seenPerceived visually

felt · undergone · encountered · witnessed · endured · survived · known · faced · weathered · gone through

visit

to

Preceding infinitive verbs

visitedWent to see someone
traveledWent on a journey
goneNo longer present

places · somewhere · anywhere · everywhere · nowhere · abroad · overseas · there · around · away

past

was

Had being once

agoBefore the present
onceAt one time
formerlyIn the past

previously · earlier · before · already · recently · lately · never · ever · always · yesterday

existence

alive

Having current existence

existingBeing real now
aroundIn the vicinity
hereIn this location

present · living · extant · in existence · on earth · in the world

duration

long

Of great extent

alwaysAt all times
foreverFor all time
yearsTwelve-month spans

months · weeks · days · since · still · continuously · ongoing · throughout

Categories

forms of "beam, is, are, was
past tensewent, was, had, got, came
past participlesdone, gone, seen, taken, given
Stop Wordsa, an, the, of, to
function wordsa, an, the, and, or
stative verbsam, is, are, was, exist

Phrases

have beenPast state continuing
had beenPast perfect auxiliary
been thereExpression of shared experience
where have you beenInquiry about recent location
has beenPerson past prominence
been around

Family

be, being, were, aren't, weren't

Familiarity: Top 1,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Everyday, not technical · Rated G