Been cannot be used independently. Been is used to describe past actions whose time is not definite. Has been is used with third person singular subjects; have been is used with all other subjects, singular and plural. People have been agitating for better roads. The difference between “I have been” and “I had been” is confusing to many who are learning English. * This verb tense is known as past perfect. I have been practicing the piano for 2 years. I have practiced the piano for 2 years. I have been there. These are the differences between the two words, namely, been and being. For example, it is bad English to say: I … is present prefect and it means you started practicing piano 2 years ago, and it doesn't specify whether you still continuing it or not. All are verb tenses! Present Perfect Continuous The present perfect continuous form is used to denote that something which had begun in the past is still continued. Been is used as a helping verb in sentences to form sentences in the perfect tense. No emphasis on the past event as having importance in the present. There is no difference. No emphasis on the past event as having importance in the present. On the other hand, had has a peculiar usage as in the sentence ‘had you been late we would have missed the train’. is present perfect continuous and it means you have started practicing piano 2 years ago and you are still continuing it. The differences between been and being are discussed here in the points in detail: Been is a form of ‘be’, which is a past participle one. I was wondering what's the difference between "has been" and "was". What is the difference between Had and Have? He has just gone out. Clean cut. The word been is used in the perfect continuous form of verbs ‘to rain’ and ‘to go’ as ‘has been raining’ and ‘has been going’ respectively. Both are the present perfect tense of be. They have been divorced for several years. * He had been in prison from 1900 to 1914. Both have been ordained. What is the difference between "were" and "have been", and are these sentences gramatically correct? Has been (Present perfect continuous) Has been is past "participle", of participate? I have been painting since the crack o' dawn. (He continues to look for a bride we assume, since we have no confirmation that he has stopped). • On the other hand, the word being can be used independently. Has Been vs Had Been Difference between has been and had been is easy to understand once you realize that has been is always connected to the present and had been to the past.