BEEN or BEING?

English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)

BEEN or BEING?

I have ~being~ ready (nonstandard).
I have *been* ready (standard). “Been” is used after “has, have, had” to talk about a perfected plan or arrangement.

You are ~been~ informed through this letter (nonstandard).
You are *being* informed through this letter (standard).
“Being” is used after “am, is, are, was, were” for an ongoing engagement.

~Been~ the first child, he will be the heir to the throne (nonstandard).
*Being* the first child, he will be the heir to the throne.
“Being” is also used when it starts a clause.

Also, one must know the right choice of these two words when used in contracted forms. For instance, *she’s been naughty*, can mean “she has been naughty” or “she is being naughty”, and both are correct even though they slightly differ in meaning.

Now, shall we have a test?

1. Having __ informed, I think I am ready (been, being).
2. This isn’t about __ arrogant (been, being).
3. What shouldn’t have __ allowed seems to be the norm now (been, being).
4. Hadn’t there __ a military era before Gowon’s (been, being)?
5. She’s just __ ___ difficult lately (been been, being been, been being, being being).
GAB