can be being

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "can be being" is not grammatically correct and should not be used in written English.
In English, the present progressive tense is constructed using the verb "to be" plus the -ing form of the verb. For example, "He is eating lunch."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

He asks delegates to imagine how scary it can be being told you could go to jail for not answering questions.

The Guardian

It may happen that database object containers, associated with actions of a certain dataflow, can be being written by other dataflows or external applications (and thus changing the triggering semantics).

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

Add in the tangibility of actually getting a physical thing in your hand in exchange for your hard-earned and convincing buyers to part with money isn't such a hard sell as software can be (being still somewhat dogged by the notion that bits & bytes should be free).

TechCrunch

"But what I try to focus on is being the best I can be, being the greatest at my role — whatever that is at the time.

Los Angeles Times

What the professionals will not tell you is just how awful running for office can be; being lied about, being besmirched, having your private life picked over, having your spouse examined as though he or she were the candidate.

Huffington Post

This proves once again how variable EF-hand proteins can be, being able to adopt through their structural plasticity "a continuum of conformations according to their binding states and their partners" (39).

Biochemistry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

They can be be pretty nasty.

The Guardian - Sport

All you can be is a mess.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

But what they can be is communicators".

The New York Times

But how effective Bryant can be is in question.

The New York Times - Sports

How Good We Can Be is published by Little, Brown (£16.99).

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "can be being" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "can be" or rephrase the sentence for clarity.

Common error

The progressive tense requires a helping verb and the -ing form. "Can" is a modal verb and doesn't combine with the "be being" construction. Instead, choose a different modal verb or rephrase entirely.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "can be being" attempts to express possibility or ability in a continuous or ongoing state. However, it's grammatically non-standard. As Ludwig AI points out, the combination of the modal verb "can" with the continuous "be being" creates an incorrect construction.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

38%

Wiki

24%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "can be being" is a tricky one. While it appears in some sources, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The core issue lies in the awkward combination of the modal verb "can" with the continuous "be being". Although the intention is to convey the possibility of something being in a certain state or undergoing a process, the phrasing is non-standard. For clarity and correctness, it's best to opt for alternatives like "can be", "may be", or restructure the sentence entirely. Remember, precision in language enhances your message and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

can be

This is the base form, omitting the continuous aspect.

may be

Expresses possibility instead of ability.

could be

Suggests a potential or conditional state.

might be

Indicates a lower probability than "may be".

is possibly

Rephrases the possibility using "is" with an adverb.

can sometimes be

Adds a sense of occasional occurrence.

is able to be

Focuses on the ability to be in a certain state.

has the potential to be

Highlights the potential for a specific outcome.

can be considered

Emphasizes the act of considering something to be in a particular state.

is liable to be

Suggests a tendency or likelihood.

FAQs

How can I correct the phrase "can be being" in a sentence?

Replace "can be being" with a more appropriate construction such as "can be", "may be", or restructure the sentence to use a different verb tense.

What's wrong with the phrase "can be being"?

The phrase "can be being" combines a modal verb ("can") with a continuous tense ("be being") in a way that is not grammatically standard in English. It's generally considered incorrect.

Is there any context where "can be being" is acceptable?

While you might find rare instances in informal contexts or non-standard dialects, "can be being" is generally discouraged in formal or academic writing.

What are some alternatives to "can be being" that maintain a similar meaning?

Depending on the intended meaning, you could use phrases like "can be", "might be", or "could be" to convey possibility or ability in a grammatically correct manner.