English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)

-EN or -ING?

Have you ~taking~ your time to study the documents (nonstandard)?
Have you *taken* your time to study the documents (standard)?
Note that -en form of the verb is usually preceded by has, have or had.

Isn’t he ~taken~ the course this semester (nonstandard)?
Isn’t he *taking* the course this semester (standard)?
The -ing verb is preceded by an appropriate form of be-verbs (am, is, are, was, were).

Note that if both forms of the verb have to be used in a sentence, the -en should precede the -ing:
He’s been being difficult lately. ✅
He’s being been difficult lately. ❌

In a sentence with contraction, the intended meaning determines the appropriate form:
It’s been considered. ✅ (The consideration has been done).
It’s being considered. ✅ (The consideration is till going on).
GAB

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