“has not seen” versus “has not been seen”
In the sentence
The ocean, 95% of which has not (seen/been seen) before.
I know that the correct answer is "been seen". Why do I use been, the past tense of "to be"? Is there a better way to say this sentence?
tense present-perfect passive-voice
edited 2 days ago
Mari-Lou A
13.6k73976
asked 2 days ago
David RobieDavid Robie
111
migrated from english.stackexchange.com 2 days ago
This question came from our site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts.
add a comment |
In the sentence
The ocean, 95% of which has not (seen/been seen) before.
I know that the correct answer is "been seen". Why do I use been, the past tense of "to be"? Is there a better way to say this sentence?
tense present-perfect passive-voice
edited 2 days ago
Mari-Lou A
13.6k73976
asked 2 days ago
David RobieDavid Robie
111
migrated from english.stackexchange.com 2 days ago
This question came from our site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts.
1
Do you know how the passive voice works in English? You need to explore that.
– Michael Rybkin
2 days ago
1
Perhaps explored is better than seen.
– Lambie
2 days ago
add a comment |
In the sentence
The ocean, 95% of which has not (seen/been seen) before.
I know that the correct answer is "been seen". Why do I use been, the past tense of "to be"? Is there a better way to say this sentence?
tense present-perfect passive-voice
edited 2 days ago
Mari-Lou A
13.6k73976
asked 2 days ago
David RobieDavid Robie
111
In the sentence
The ocean, 95% of which has not (seen/been seen) before.
I know that the correct answer is "been seen". Why do I use been, the past tense of "to be"? Is there a better way to say this sentence?
tense present-perfect passive-voice
tense present-perfect passive-voice
edited 2 days ago
Mari-Lou A
13.6k73976
asked 2 days ago
David RobieDavid Robie
111
edited 2 days ago
Mari-Lou A
13.6k73976
asked 2 days ago
David RobieDavid Robie
111
edited 2 days ago
Mari-Lou A
13.6k73976
edited 2 days ago
Mari-Lou A
13.6k73976
edited 2 days ago
Mari-Lou A
13.6k73976
13.6k73976
asked 2 days ago
David RobieDavid Robie
111
asked 2 days ago
David RobieDavid Robie
111
asked 2 days ago
David RobieDavid Robie
111
111
migrated from english.stackexchange.com 2 days ago
This question came from our site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts.
migrated from english.stackexchange.com 2 days ago
This question came from our site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts.
1
Do you know how the passive voice works in English? You need to explore that.
– Michael Rybkin
2 days ago
1
Perhaps explored is better than seen.
– Lambie
2 days ago
add a comment |
1
Do you know how the passive voice works in English? You need to explore that.
– Michael Rybkin
2 days ago
1
Perhaps explored is better than seen.
– Lambie
2 days ago
1
1
Do you know how the passive voice works in English? You need to explore that.
– Michael Rybkin
2 days ago
Do you know how the passive voice works in English? You need to explore that.
– Michael Rybkin
2 days ago
1
1
Perhaps explored is better than seen.
– Lambie
2 days ago
Perhaps explored is better than seen.
– Lambie
2 days ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
This is a present perfect passive construction:
has been seen
Been is not the "past tense" of BE: it is its past/passive participle—let's abbreviate that PaPpl.
The preceding first verbform in the construction is has, a present-tense form of the perfect auxiliary HAVE. This auxiliary requires the following verb to take the PaPpl form, thus building a perfect construction.
Similarly, the BE here, in its PaPpl form been, is the passive auxiliary, which also requires a following PaPpl to build the passive construction: in this case, seen, the PaPpl of the final, lexical verb in the construction, SEE.
answered 2 days ago
StoneyBStoneyB
169k10231412
add a comment |
For your easy understanding here is an oversimplification. Decide first if the subject of the sentence is the doer or the receiver of the action. When the subject does his job, follow the normal tense pattern. If the subject is the receiver, take it for granted, BE is your main verb. Formulate tense with this idea in mind; don't search for meaning now. Irrespective of the tense used in the sentence, the main action verb would always be in past participle form( do- did- done)— the last one. The past participle form of the verb is almost an adjective in passive voice.
- The ocean, 95% of which has not (seen/been seen) before",
1.Ocean is the receiver. 2. Present perfect tense.3. (be- was- been) 4. has been 5. Seen ( always ) 6. Someone has not seen 95% of ocean before ( the active that had been)
It's a layman's guide, bereft of anything scholastic.
answered 2 days ago
Barid Baran AcharyaBarid Baran Acharya
722510
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
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active
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active
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votes
This is a present perfect passive construction:
has been seen
Been is not the "past tense" of BE: it is its past/passive participle—let's abbreviate that PaPpl.
The preceding first verbform in the construction is has, a present-tense form of the perfect auxiliary HAVE. This auxiliary requires the following verb to take the PaPpl form, thus building a perfect construction.
Similarly, the BE here, in its PaPpl form been, is the passive auxiliary, which also requires a following PaPpl to build the passive construction: in this case, seen, the PaPpl of the final, lexical verb in the construction, SEE.
answered 2 days ago
StoneyBStoneyB
169k10231412
add a comment |
This is a present perfect passive construction:
has been seen
Been is not the "past tense" of BE: it is its past/passive participle—let's abbreviate that PaPpl.
The preceding first verbform in the construction is has, a present-tense form of the perfect auxiliary HAVE. This auxiliary requires the following verb to take the PaPpl form, thus building a perfect construction.
Similarly, the BE here, in its PaPpl form been, is the passive auxiliary, which also requires a following PaPpl to build the passive construction: in this case, seen, the PaPpl of the final, lexical verb in the construction, SEE.
answered 2 days ago
StoneyBStoneyB
169k10231412
add a comment |
This is a present perfect passive construction:
has been seen
Been is not the "past tense" of BE: it is its past/passive participle—let's abbreviate that PaPpl.
The preceding first verbform in the construction is has, a present-tense form of the perfect auxiliary HAVE. This auxiliary requires the following verb to take the PaPpl form, thus building a perfect construction.
Similarly, the BE here, in its PaPpl form been, is the passive auxiliary, which also requires a following PaPpl to build the passive construction: in this case, seen, the PaPpl of the final, lexical verb in the construction, SEE.
answered 2 days ago
StoneyBStoneyB
169k10231412
This is a present perfect passive construction:
has been seen
Been is not the "past tense" of BE: it is its past/passive participle—let's abbreviate that PaPpl.
The preceding first verbform in the construction is has, a present-tense form of the perfect auxiliary HAVE. This auxiliary requires the following verb to take the PaPpl form, thus building a perfect construction.
Similarly, the BE here, in its PaPpl form been, is the passive auxiliary, which also requires a following PaPpl to build the passive construction: in this case, seen, the PaPpl of the final, lexical verb in the construction, SEE.
answered 2 days ago
StoneyBStoneyB
169k10231412
answered 2 days ago
StoneyBStoneyB
169k10231412
answered 2 days ago
StoneyBStoneyB
169k10231412
answered 2 days ago
StoneyBStoneyB
169k10231412
169k10231412
add a comment |
add a comment |
For your easy understanding here is an oversimplification. Decide first if the subject of the sentence is the doer or the receiver of the action. When the subject does his job, follow the normal tense pattern. If the subject is the receiver, take it for granted, BE is your main verb. Formulate tense with this idea in mind; don't search for meaning now. Irrespective of the tense used in the sentence, the main action verb would always be in past participle form( do- did- done)— the last one. The past participle form of the verb is almost an adjective in passive voice.
- The ocean, 95% of which has not (seen/been seen) before",
1.Ocean is the receiver. 2. Present perfect tense.3. (be- was- been) 4. has been 5. Seen ( always ) 6. Someone has not seen 95% of ocean before ( the active that had been)
It's a layman's guide, bereft of anything scholastic.
answered 2 days ago
Barid Baran AcharyaBarid Baran Acharya
722510
add a comment |
For your easy understanding here is an oversimplification. Decide first if the subject of the sentence is the doer or the receiver of the action. When the subject does his job, follow the normal tense pattern. If the subject is the receiver, take it for granted, BE is your main verb. Formulate tense with this idea in mind; don't search for meaning now. Irrespective of the tense used in the sentence, the main action verb would always be in past participle form( do- did- done)— the last one. The past participle form of the verb is almost an adjective in passive voice.
- The ocean, 95% of which has not (seen/been seen) before",
1.Ocean is the receiver. 2. Present perfect tense.3. (be- was- been) 4. has been 5. Seen ( always ) 6. Someone has not seen 95% of ocean before ( the active that had been)
It's a layman's guide, bereft of anything scholastic.
answered 2 days ago
Barid Baran AcharyaBarid Baran Acharya
722510
add a comment |
For your easy understanding here is an oversimplification. Decide first if the subject of the sentence is the doer or the receiver of the action. When the subject does his job, follow the normal tense pattern. If the subject is the receiver, take it for granted, BE is your main verb. Formulate tense with this idea in mind; don't search for meaning now. Irrespective of the tense used in the sentence, the main action verb would always be in past participle form( do- did- done)— the last one. The past participle form of the verb is almost an adjective in passive voice.
- The ocean, 95% of which has not (seen/been seen) before",
1.Ocean is the receiver. 2. Present perfect tense.3. (be- was- been) 4. has been 5. Seen ( always ) 6. Someone has not seen 95% of ocean before ( the active that had been)
It's a layman's guide, bereft of anything scholastic.
answered 2 days ago
Barid Baran AcharyaBarid Baran Acharya
722510
For your easy understanding here is an oversimplification. Decide first if the subject of the sentence is the doer or the receiver of the action. When the subject does his job, follow the normal tense pattern. If the subject is the receiver, take it for granted, BE is your main verb. Formulate tense with this idea in mind; don't search for meaning now. Irrespective of the tense used in the sentence, the main action verb would always be in past participle form( do- did- done)— the last one. The past participle form of the verb is almost an adjective in passive voice.
- The ocean, 95% of which has not (seen/been seen) before",
1.Ocean is the receiver. 2. Present perfect tense.3. (be- was- been) 4. has been 5. Seen ( always ) 6. Someone has not seen 95% of ocean before ( the active that had been)
It's a layman's guide, bereft of anything scholastic.
answered 2 days ago
Barid Baran AcharyaBarid Baran Acharya
722510
edited 2 days ago
answered 2 days ago
Barid Baran AcharyaBarid Baran Acharya
722510
answered 2 days ago
Barid Baran AcharyaBarid Baran Acharya
722510
answered 2 days ago
Barid Baran AcharyaBarid Baran Acharya
722510
722510
add a comment |
add a comment |
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1
Do you know how the passive voice works in English? You need to explore that.
– Michael Rybkin
2 days ago
1
Perhaps explored is better than seen.
– Lambie
2 days ago