to be been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to be been" is not correct and not usable in written English.
It appears to be a confusion of verb forms and does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "I want to be been in a better place" does not make sense.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

His general attitude toward the prosecutors seemed to be "Been there, done that".

The New York Times

We are absolutely overwhelmed that he's won the public vote to be been named PDSA Pet Survivor 2015".

Independent

Lady, not and editor in the office but claims to be been the villain of this set piece, even the most short-legged among us.

The New Yorker

Hollande revealed on Saturday that he had pressed May to take Britain's fair share of the 1,500 asylum-seeking children left in Calais who are due to be been dispersed to reception centres throughout his country.

The Guardian

For the first royal heir in direct line of descent to be been born in the 21st century, the palace has chosen a tradition that has been used to announce royal births and deaths since the 18th century.

The New York Times

Marc Green, the label manager at August Day Recordings, said: "We are extremely saddened to announce that Steve Strange died at 11.15 local time on Thursday February 12 in Sharm el-Sheikh International Hospital, Egypt, where he is thought to be been on holiday.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

How to be is more important".

The New York Times - Sports

The best age to be is.

Independent

All she had to be was coherent.

The New Yorker

"What we need to be is amazing.

The New York Times - Travel

To be is to not be.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "to be been" in your writing; it's grammatically incorrect. Instead, use "to have been" for the present perfect infinitive or simply "to be" for the infinitive form.

Common error

Don't confuse the infinitive form "to be" with the past participle "been". "Been" is used after auxiliary verbs like "have" or "had", not directly after "to be".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to be been" is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a malformed verb phrase. The infinitive form "to be" cannot be directly followed by the past participle "been".

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Science

27%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "to be been" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided. As Ludwig AI points out, it's a malformed construction that doesn't follow standard English grammar rules. While examples of its usage can be found in various sources, including news, science, and wikis, these instances likely represent errors rather than correct usage. Instead, use "to have been" to express a past action in the infinitive form or simply "to be" for the infinitive. Remember to proofread carefully to avoid this common mistake, especially in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to have been

Corrects the grammar to use the present perfect infinitive form.

to be

Simplifies the phrase to its basic infinitive form, often sufficient to convey the intended meaning.

to have

Focuses on the action of possessing something, suitable if the original intent involved possession.

to become

Indicates a process of transformation or change, relevant if the context suggests a transition.

to get

Implies acquiring or receiving something, appropriate if the original context involved acquisition.

supposed to be

Suggests obligation or expectation, if the original phrase was intended to convey a requirement.

scheduled to be

Specifies a planned or arranged event, fitting if the original context involved scheduling.

expected to be

Highlights an anticipation or prediction, suitable if the initial context involved expectations.

intended to be

Emphasizes a deliberate aim or intention, applicable if the initial context focused on purpose.

destined to be

Implies a predetermined outcome or fate, relevant if the original context suggested destiny.

FAQs

Why is "to be been" grammatically incorrect?

The construction "to be been" combines the infinitive form of the verb "be" with the past participle "been" incorrectly. The correct form to express a past action in the infinitive is "to have been".

When should I use "to have been" instead of "to be been"?

Use "to have been" when you want to express that something has happened or existed at some point in the past, relative to the time you're speaking or writing about. "To be been" is never correct.

Can I use "to be been" in any context?

No, "to be been" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's best to avoid this phrase in both formal and informal writing.

What are some common mistakes people make when trying to use "to be been"?

A common mistake is confusing the past participle "been" with the infinitive "to be". Remember that "been" typically follows an auxiliary verb like "have" or "had", while "to be" is the base form of the infinitive.