Use of BEING in a sentence

Is being a helping verb or a main verb? In this post, we will learn different uses of being in the English language.

In English, the verb being is used as both a helping and an action verb in different situations. Let’s understand how and when to use being in English.

Use of BEING in English

1. As a main verb
2. As a helping verb
3. As a noun (gerund)
4. As a present participle in participle phrases
5. BEING as a noun

1. Use of being as a main verb

As a main verb, BEING is the present participle (V3) of the verb BE. As a main verb, being refers to a continuous state of being that someone deliberately is in. It is used as a main verb in the Present continuous tense and the Past Continuous tense.

V1	V2	V3 (past participle)	Present participle (V1+ing)
Be (is/am/are)	was, were	been	being

When being is used as a main verb (stative), it is followed by the helping verb BE (is, am, are, was, were).

Examples of BEING as a main verb:

• You are being funny.
• She is being silly right now.
• Why are you being my father?
• Jon is being a great team member to us.
• She was being crazy in the party last night.
• I am just being sarcastic. Excuse me!
• They were being really rude to me yesterday.
• Jyoti is not being sincere towards her job.
• You are not being you.

In all the above sentences, being is working as a stative verb. It is not showing any dynamic action. It is just showing a state of being that someone is or was in deliberately. Try replacing it with the verb ‘behaving.’ You will understand what it’s doing.

Note: Do not use feelings or emotions after BEING.

• I am being happy. ❌
• I am happy. ✔️

• He is being sad/emotional. ❌
• He is sad/emotional. ✔️

You don’t deliberately get into a state of a feeling/ emotion. You can’t just turn it on and off; a feeling or emotion is a consequence.

2. Use of being as a main verb

We use being as a helping verb in the Present Continuous tense and the Past Continuous tense in passive voice.

Structures:

Examples of being as a helping verb:

• We are writing a book about human mind. (active, present continuous)
• A book on human mind is being written (by us). (passive, present continuous)

• The cops were beating some kids brutally. (active, past continuous)
• Some kids were being beaten. (passive, past continuous)

• She is being offered a job.
• I am being ridiculed.
• My friends are being beaten up.
• The next video is being recorded right now.
• Your efforts are being appreciated.
• His father is being checked up right now.
• The food is being prepared right now.
• The movie was being made that time.
• That book was being written last month.
• The actors were being tested for their roles.
• Our annual performance was being evaluated in the meeting last night.

3. Use of being as a noun (gerund)

Being is also used as a gerund (a noun) in a gerund phrase. Let’s take some examples of being as a noun (gerund).

Examples:

• Being a politician in this country is tough.
  (Gerund phrase = Being a politician in this country, acting as the subject)
  
• Being angry does not help in taking rational decisions.
  (Gerund phrase = Being angry, acting as the subject)
  
• Being a teacher allows you to change lives.
  (Gerund phrase = Being a teacher, acting as the subject)
  
• I hate being his friend.
  (Gerund phrase = Being his friend, acting as the object of the verb)
  
• The benefit of being my friend is that nobody messes up with you.
  (Gerund phrase = Being my friend, acting as the object of the preposition OF)

4. Use of being as a present participle in participle phrases

Being is also used in the beginning of a participle phrase. Let’s take some examples of being as a present participle.

A participle phrase works either as an adjective or an adverb in a sentence.

Examples:

• Being scared to death, I don’t play with dogs.
• Rahul, being a father of two kids, does not flirt with girls.
• Being the owner of the company, you have to deal with all the complaints.
• Being a cop, he has to be strong.

5. “BEING” as a noun

Being means “a life” or “existence” and can be used as a word.

• Every being deserves to live.
• The movement of releasing stray dogs was brought into being last year.
• Many believed that Shiva is a mythical being.