What's the difference between the helping verbs HAS and HAS BEEN?

by Vijay
(India)

Please explain in simple words what is the difference between the helping verbs HAS and HAS BEEN or where should we use HAS as helping verb and where should we use HAS BEEN and what is the reason?

Ola's answer:

Hi Vijay,

HAS as a helping verb is used in the present perfect tense.

We combine it together with the MAIN verb to express a completed action.

Examples:

• She has eaten already. (has + eaten = completed action)
  


• Everything has changed. (has + changed = completed action)
  


• John has quit his job. (has + quit = completed action)
  

The structure HAS BEEN + main verb is used in the perfect
progressive tense.

It expresses an action that started in the past continued until the present.

Examples:

• He has been working here for 10 years. (has + been +
  working = an action that continued until the present)
  


• Lisa has been helping them since their mother died. (has +
  been + helping = an action that continued until the present)
  


• The cat has been sleeping all day. (has + been + sleeping =
  an action that continued until the present)
  

I hope this helps :)