Correct use of the word being

The word «being» is serving as what’s called a present participle in these examples. It is helping to create a form of the verb called the present continuous tense.

You are probably familiar with a variety of tenses, but just in case you don’t remember their names, here are some refresher examples, for the verb «feed». I chose an ordinary transitive verb (one which takes an object, i.e. one in which someone does the verb to something) to show the effect of different tenses more clearly:

Tense Example

Past

(Simple) Perfect    I fed the baby
Pluperfect          I had fed the baby
Imperfect           I was _feeding_ the baby

Present

(Simple) Present    I feed the baby
Present Continuous  I am _feeding_ the baby

Future

Future              I will feed the baby
Future Perfect      I will have fed the baby

Note that 2 of these, the Imperfect and the Present Continuous, use the present participle form of the verb itself, «feeding».

Now, suppose that you are the baby. Instead of the active form of the verb, «to feed», we can switch to the passive form, «to be fed». Then, the sentences from earlier in these two tenses change to:

Imperfect           I was _being_ fed
Present Continuous  I am _being_ fed

So, the word «being» shows up most commonly in these two tenses, in the passive form of the verb.

Note: The verb «to be» is an additional, unique case where the word «being» can appear to form these same tenses, but the verb is intransitive. For example:

Imperfect           I was _being_ careful
Present Continuous  I am _being_ careful

Modern American English relies heavily on present continuous tense verb forms instead of the more mundane present tense. In fact, the simple present tense is only regularly used in one way — to reflect an ongoing, regular activity. A few examples:

«How do you get to work?» «I ride the bus.»
«What kind of work do you do?» «I feed animals at the zoo.»

The normal and more common form of the present tense in AmE is the present continuous:

«I’m watching my weight».
«He’s being asked to sign the papers.»
«She’s getting really upset.»

BritE does the same thing, but the simple present shows up a bit more, just as a variation in usage.

Note: There is one rather uncommon usage of the word «being». It sometimes appears to start an adjectival phrase, which is a phrase that describes something. For example:

«The ship’s captain, being taller than the rest of the crew, was able to reach the swinging cask.»

There is another occasional, but incorrect, usage where the word «being» is used as part of a kind of additional dangling phrase that’s trying to do the job of a conjunction:

«I ate the rest of the cake, the reason being that I was depressed.»

These are really two separate ideas, and could be correctly framed by inserting the conjunction «because» and dropping the awkward phrase «the reason being that»:

«I ate the rest of the cake because I was depressed.»

  Being as a Present Participle

Being is the present participle (-ing) form of the verb to be, used with the verb to be to form the continuous tenses:

• [Subject] + [to be] + being + [Complement].

Usually, continuous tenses demonstrate a process in progress (i.e. incomplete at the time discussed) or a temporarily repeated activity. With the verb to be, however, we usually refer to states, conditions and feelings in the simple form when we would use continuous for other tenses. This makes the continuous use of to be usually limited to specifically emphasising a temporary condition – often one that is unusual or surprising.

• He was being very helpful on Sunday, for some reason.
• She is being strangely quiet this morning.

This use is more unusual in the future, where the future simple can already emphasise a state, and we’re less to likely to discuss surprising/unexpected information.

Being in the Passive Voice

Being can be used in the the passive continuous forms to show a process in progress (as above, an incomplete or repeated activity). For the passive voice, this is combined with the past participle:

• [Subject] + [to be] + being + [Past participle]

This structure is used to emphasise the doing of the process, rather than the subject (the actor), either because the result is more important than the cause or because the actor is unknown.

• The cliff was being eroded (by the sea).
• Our phone signal is being blocked by something.

Being as a Gerund

The gerund being is a word form that uses the -ing form as a noun. It is used to describe the substance of being, which could be used as a subject or object, with a few different meanings:

• A life-form, e.g. He claimed to have seen a being from space.

This use is common when it is ambiguous or unimportant to specify exactly what the life-form is, so we can refer to uncategorised or new living things as ‘beings’. We can also group wider lifeforms as beings without subgroups, such as living being (or the way we generally refer to human beings).

• To refer to someone in terms of their life essence/wholeness, e.g. She loved art and believed it made up her whole being.

This use is a little like existence, but generally relates it particularly to an individual. You might see it referring to other nouns like animals and objects, but typically a thing’s being has some connection to sense of purpose/life meaning, so it’s often useful for discussing people and their nature.

• To refer to a state of existence, e.g. The idea came into being after hours of brainstorming.

This use would usually be found in rather formal settings, discussing something coming into being in a somewhat academic sense.

Being as an Adverb

Being can be used as a conjunction or as part of an adverbial phrase. Here, it roughly means because or since, and is often connected to a subordinate clause with that, as or as how:

• Wendy missed the train, being that she was late.

It can also be used for the same meaning without a complete clause, to give an adverbial complement:

• Wendy missed the train, being late.

(Or with the subject/verb to follow as an afterthought: Wendy missed the train, being late as she was.)

Being as part of a Noun Phrase

Being can also be used in combination with a complement to form a noun phrase from a state or condition, in order, for example, to refer to it in terms of cause and effect.

• His being tall was the main reason they hired him.

This use will often be applied in similar situations to the adverbial use; the above example could also be said as Because he was tall, they hired him. Or Being tall, he got the job. (In its most standard structure: They hired him because he was tall.)

I hope these explanations and examples give some insight into how we use being in different ways – a lot of these ideas translate to different verbs in the present participle form.

There are certain words and phrases that represent a very high likelihood that a GMAT sentence correction answer choice is incorrect. By keeping these words and phrases in mind, while solving the sentence correction questions, you can improve both your accuracy and speed by swiftly eliminating obviously incorrect answer choices. However, there are often exceptions to these rules that must also be kept in mind. In this short article, we will cover the use of one such word, «being», on the GMAT.

Why “Being” is Typically Inappropriate on the GMAT

Generally speaking, the use of the word «being» is redundant on the GMAT, and represents an inappropriate answer choice. Roughly 80 percent of the time an answer choice that contains the word «being» will not be correct because its use leads to a wordy, passive construction. To illustrate,

Example 1 —

Jack is being honest in accepting his mistakes.

Example 1 is quite wordy. If the word «being» was not used, the sentence could easily be formed and would be more concise.

Example 2 —

Jack is honest in accepting his mistakes.

As you can see, Example 2 conveys the same meaning that example one does but it takes fewer words to do so.

The Exceptions

Although rare, there are two cases where the use of being is acceptable, on the GMAT, when it is part of a noun phrase and when it reflects the passive continuous verb tense.

1. When ‘being’ is part of a noun phrase

Please consider the following example.

Example 3 —

Being the team leader, Jack has been planning the project.

In this sentence, «being the team leader» is a noun phrase, a phrase centered on a noun. Thus, since the word «being» is a part of this phrase, the use of this word does not make the sentence awkward or wordy.

2. When ‘being’ reflects the passive continuous verb tense

Please consider the following example.

Example 4 —

Chimpanzees are humans’ closest relatives, leading complex social lives and being handy with tools.

In this sentence, «leading complex social lives» and «being handy with tools» both reflect the passive continuous verb tense. Thus, this sentence is also correct.

Important

Several GMAT books commit the mistake of stating that any sentence correction answer choice that contains the word «being» should be discarded; as this article has shown, that is not the case. Hence, please do not eliminate an answer choice simply because it contains «being»; delve deeper.

This article has deliberately been kept brief; for a more elaborate explanation, please refer to Experts’ Global’s Stage One Sentence Correction videos.

1. Choose the correct variant of the phrasal verb to meet: e)to get together
2. Choose the correct synonym: We have been celebrating this holiday for 8 years: a) observing
3. To fall away means:
e) leave
4. Complete the sentences: At 2 o’clock lessons ….. again.: c) start
5. The abbreviation BA means: d) Bachelor of Arts
6. Find the verb forming suffix: d) en
7. Add prefix and suffix: Write, eat: c) re, -able
8. Choose the right variant: We have English lessons: a) twice a week
9. The sentences with the possessive case: c) My sister’s hand bag is red and black
10. Article the is used with: d) newspapers
11. Complete the sentences: Do you know ___daughter: b) George and Kate’s
12. The Correct use of preposition: I’m glad to get rid ____ the responsibility: d)of
13. Choose the right preposition: to insist___: c)on
14. The Correct use of the prepositions: ___ Denmark, teachers are ___ the best paid workers: a) in, among
15. The Correct use of preposition: There is a place __ 6 stamps __ each page __ Nick’s stamp book: d) for/on/of
16. Complete the sentences: That new house belongs to me, so it is___: e)mine
17. Fill in a suitable pronoun: ___ books were read last year.: e) Those
18. Fill in a suitable pronoun: They are so young that they can lose__ children: a)their
19. The correct variant of the numbers 3542:a) three thousand five hundred and forty-two
20. Correct written fraction ¾: e) three quarters
21. The correct variant of the numbers 255: a) two hundred and fifty-five
22. The best alternative: It’s very difficult to drive in___: c) slow moving rush hour traffic
23. Complete the sentences: Walking is a ___ physical activity than running: e) more popular
24. Choose the correct answer: You look much ___ today: c) better
25. It is as adjective and as adverb: e) fast
26. The sentences with the correct form of the Past Simple passive: d) was read
27. A delicious cake ___ by him now: b) is being tested
28. Choose an irregular verb: b) seek
29. Fill in a suitable verb: Most days my daughter __ get up first and make breakfast.: c) used to
30. You …. whisper. Nobody can hear us: e) needn’t
31. The correct answer: I failed the test. I ___ studied harder: e) should have
32. The verb followed by to (Complex object): c) want
33. Compete with Complex object: I want __ a song. She’s got a marvelous voice: b) Asel to sing
34. The verb followed V-ing (Complex object): b) prevent
35. Sentences with Complex object: e) Do you want me to stay with you?
36. The appropriate endings of the sentences: Trevor said that …: d) he had fixed the shelves
37. The appropriate endings of the sentences:The director wondered …: c) if I learnt English
38. The right variant: a) She knew that he was doing his homework at 7 o’clock
39. Report the sent. : “don’t wait for me,” she said to me: a) She told me not to wait for her
40. Choose the conditional sentences: A) If I stay out late, I’ll get a taxi home
41. You won’t pass the exam … you try a bit harder: c) unless
42. Suppose! If It __last weekend, we __ to play tennis: e) rained – wouldn’t be able
43. The weather was cold while we were away. I wish it ___ warmer: b) had been
44. Equivalent: He came out of the office and went home: d) Having come out of the office, he went home
45. Modal verb: She__ know his address: c) must
46. Function of gerund: Knitting is one of my hobbies: e) subject
47. Form of the verb: We thought about __ early: a) leaving
48. Underlined word is : I enjoy reading new books: e) gerund
49. We agreed ___: c) to go
50. Define the function of infinitive in the senten.: I was the first to come: d) object
51. “oo” is pronounced differently in the word: a) flood; d) blood
52. The correct word: __ popular belief, the desert can produce crops: b) by means of
53. Choose the right preposition: I prepare mineral water __ juice: d) to
54. Which of them are possessive pronouns?: AF
55. Read the number: 1345; f) one thousand three hundred and forty-five
56. The correct answer “The Alfa River is 100 km long. The Beta River is 200 km long.”: E) longer than
57. We ___ by a loud noise last night: B)
58. He said that___:
59. The second halves of sentences are : Diana was sitting in an armchair:
60. The sentences using be+ adjec+ infinitive: b)He’s afraid to tell him the truth
61. The Chinese made the firs paper money about 1500 years ago__: e) because in some parts of China didn’t have enough metal for coins
62. ___ issued the firs paper money: e) The Bank of Sweden
63. Why did the Lydians put a picture on their coins?: to show where the money come from
64. How did people live without money: e) people used to exchange things
65. Early coins first appeared in: d) Turkey
66. English language is: a) used in the majority of world’s emails
67. To estimate’ means: a) to calculate
68. By 2050: e) the number of English speaking people will have dropped.
69. Chinese language is: e) the leading language in the future world
70. The English words were borrowed: a) Saxons
71. Troubled: в) waters
72. 2. We have celebrating this holiday for 8 years: c) observing
73. 3. The synonym to the word “rest”: c) relax
74. 4. The meaning of “stop or keep a person from doing something”:e) prevent
75. 5. There is a lot to do. We should have more time. C) We need more time
76. 6. “Medical” is matches with:e) treatment
77. 7. Find a general word for the following group: d) education
78. 8. Complete the sentences with the correct article: ___ fear is a perfectly natural human feeling.: d) —
79. 9. Article the is used with: b) newspapers
80. 10. Write “a” article before the nouns: b) I’m happy to have … very good education.
81. 11. It is __ nice morning. Let’s go for __ walk :d) a/a
82. 12. ___ Denmark, teachers are __ the best-paid workers: b) In/among
83. 13. Have you ever been ___ Paris? : a) to
84. 14. Children___ sixteen years___ age are not admitted to the bar__ their parents: a) under/of/without
85. 15. Correct preposition: His courage is worthy ___ the highest praise: a) of
86. 16. The old town is famous for __ beautiful architecture: c) Its
87. 17. They are so young that they can lose __ children: c) their
88. 18. The noun ‘Flowers’ may be replaced with the pronoun: d) they
89. 19. I was born in 1996: a) nineteen ninety-six
90. 20. The correct variant of the fraction 2/3: d) two thirds
91. 21. 3542: e) three thousand five hundreds and forty-two
92. 22. Where is the___ bakery?: e) nearest
93. 23.Suitable adjective: Tim was too ___ to ask Alice for a dance: a) shy
94. 24. Plural form of the word “forget-me-not”: b) forget-me-nots
95. 25.She is ___ person in class: e) the most intelligent
96. 26. The statement is not about Passive voice: a) We use for repeated action and to talk about things in general.
97. 27. The right verb form is: Can I borrow that book when you ___ it?: b) ‘ve finished
98. 28. Past Simple of the verb: a) cleaned
99. 29. Irregular verb: d) seek
100. 30. The meaning of the modal verb in the sentence: Mr. Black might have already gone: d) possibility of the action
101. 31. Modal verb “to”: c) ought.
102. 32. We believe ___ to be the best way out of this situation: a) it
103. 33. Choose the Complex Object: e) She wants to me to read this book
104. 34. Complex Object: e) He heard me open the door.
105. 35. Complete the sentence: My father ___ drive a car:а) Let’s me
106. 36. Report the sentence: Tom said: “I’m reading Robinson Crusoe”: d) Tom said that he was reading ‘Robinson Crusoe’.
107. 37. Report the sentence: The teacher asked: “What is the day today?”: a) The teacher wondered what day was that day.
108. 38. Report the sentence: Fred said “It is stuffy here”: d) Fred said it was stuffy there.
109. 39. Tense changes in reported speech: b) past perfect-past perfect
110. 40. Sentence with “Zero Conditional”: c) if you don’t water the plants they dry up
111. 41. Find the zero conditional: b) present simple, if present simple
112. 42. Second conditional form: a) past simple, would+ infinitive
113. 43. Appropriate answer: Suppose! If it ___ last weekend, we ____ to play tennis: a) rained – wouldn’t be able
114. 44. Present Participle Passive: d) while being examined, the boy could not help crying
115. 45. Perfect Participle Passive:a) having been translated into many languages the book became known everywhere.
116. 46. Gerund as the Object in the sentence: a) he was accused of having stolen this necklase
117. 47. Fill in a suitable form of the verb: Saule was surprised __ him last month: b) to see
118. 48. Define the underlined word: My elder sister enjoys listening to music: d) gerund
119. 49. Which of these verbs can take both gerund and infinitive with similar meanings: a) love, prefer
120. 50. We thought about __ early: a)leaving
121. 51. Choose the words with the sound [э]: C H?
122. 52. Choose the right preposition: to insist: a) on
123. 53.Underline word is: He is some advice for Those preparing to go on holiday: a) pronoun
124. 54. Sentence with reflexive pronouns: C) we got there by ourselves E) we did it ourselves
125. 55. Ordinal numbers: A) twelfth E) third
126. 56. Choose the noun:с) rainbow d) cow
127. 57. Choose the right variant: I __ here __ 6 months: c) have working … for E) have been working… for
128. 58. The second halves of the sentence are: I wondered:?
129. 59. Participle I: C) he tells us about a new building now being built in Astana E) Opening the window Sheila injured her hand
130. 60. The sentence using be+ adjective +infinitive. He’s afraid of telling him the truth: F) he’s afraid to tell him the truth
131. 61. The synonym of the word reply: B) answer
132. 62. English people like talking about the weather: B) because the weather is very changeable in England
133. 63. English people use the statement “Other countries have a climate: in England we have weather”: E) to describe
the weather peculiarities in England
134. 64. “As changeable as the weather” – it is a person who ___: B) often changes his mood
135. 65. English people do not like spending their summer holidays in England, because __: B) of changeable and rainy summers in England
136. 66. Why people had become alarmed with the danger of pollution?:A) Cars and other new inventions make pollution steadily worse
137. 67. What should we do to reduce pollution? : e) we should protect nature
138. 68. Britain helps international organizations on environmental ___: e) protection
139. 69. Why is pollution a complicated problem? E) because factories reduced useful things
140. 70. Pollution wasn’t such as a serious problem earlier. People___: E) did not have pollution – causing machines