grammar

Question

Hellocould you please give me the meaning the word (being) in these sentences : 1-He was caught being drunk in the back of a cab2-How being fitted for a dress could be so much fun was hard to explain, but it was.3-There is something to be said for being poor.thank you

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

samersamer1974Could you please give me the meaning of the word ~~(being)~~ "being" in these sentences?

Note above how to ask your question.
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Sentence 1 is not a particularly good one, but let's ignore that for now.

"being" is a different way of saying another form of be, e.g., is, are, was, were. The form "being" is used when you refer to an action or state which is related to another sentence with be. The subject of the original sentence disappears.

2. Someone fitted her for a dress. So, She was fitted for a dress. The associated action (or process) is "being fitted for a dress". It was hard to explain in what way that action (or process) (being fitted for a dress) was fun. But it was fun.

3. Many people are poor. The associated state is "being poor". There is something (good; positive) that we can say about that state (being poor).
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Similarly for these sentences and their associated actions or states.

We were early.> being early (arriving early)
We were late.> being late (arriving late)

Being early is better than being late. (The action of being early is better than the action of being late.)
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Peter is an astronaut. > being an astronaut.
Paul is a teacher. > being a teacher

Being an astronaut pays more than being a teacher.
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Laura was welcomed when she came to see the Smiths. > being welcomed
Mary was turned away when she came to see the Smiths. > being turned away

Being turned away is not very pleasant compared with being welcomed.

CJ

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