Perfect Passive Gerund (having been done)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The Perfect Passive Gerund describes an action that was done to someone in the past, acting as a noun in the sentence.
- Use 'having been' + past participle for past passive actions (e.g., 'having been told').
- Place 'not' before 'having' to make it negative (e.g., 'not having been invited').
- Use it after verbs or prepositions that require a gerund (e.g., 'He complained about having been ignored').
Overview
Something happened to you first. This shows the order of things.
One thing finished. This made the next thing happen.
The action is finished now. It is not happening anymore.
This helps you write very well. It looks professional.
How This Grammar Works
- 1
having(The Perfect Aspect): In English grammar, the 'perfect' aspect signifies completion before another point in time. Whenhaveis used in its gerund form,having, it carries this meaning over. It acts as a temporal anchor, establishing the action as finished from the perspective of the main verb. InHaving finished the project..., the finishing is done.
- 1
been(The Passive Voice): This is the past participle ofto be. Its presence here is the definitive marker of the passive voice. It signals that the subject of the gerund is the recipient of the action, not the doer.The car was washed.The car received the action.Beenperforms the same function inside this gerund structure.
- 1
Past Participle(The Lexical Meaning): This is the form of the main verb that carries the core action (e.g.,told,seen,revised,promoted). It specifies what action was performed on the subject.
Formation Pattern
The files were finally organized after having been misplaced for weeks. (misplace → misplaced)
Having been reviewed by three separate editors, the article was ready for publication. (review → reviewed)
He complained about having been overcharged for the meal. (overcharge → overcharged)
Having been chosen for the team, he felt immense pressure to perform well. (choose → chosen)
The suspect was released after having been held for 48 hours without charge. (hold → held)
having been approved |
having been denied |
having been informed |
having been written |
having been seen |
having been taken |
having been built |
having been forgotten |
When To Use It
Having been trained in emergency procedures, the flight attendant remained calm during the turbulence.(The prior training caused the calmness.)Having been notified of the data breach, the company immediately contacted its customers.(The notification prompted the contact.)The politician, having been defeated in the election, announced his retirement from public life.(The defeat led to the retirement.)
He was fined for having been caught driving without a license.(The prepositionforlinks the fine to the reason.)She was praised by her boss after having been tasked with the most difficult client.I have no memory of having been told about the meeting.He was under investigation on suspicion of having been paid illegal funds.
She was ecstatic about having been offered the job in Paris.(Her ecstasy is a direct result of the completed job offer.)He is still bitter about having been left off the team.(His bitterness stems from the past, completed event of being excluded.)They were relieved after having been found by the rescue team.(The relief follows the completed act of being found.)
- Instead of: "After the theory was disproven by new data, it was abandoned by most of the scientific community."
- More Concise:
Having been disproven by new data, the theory was abandoned by most of the scientific community. - Instead of: "The building was declared unsafe because it had been damaged in the earthquake."
- More Concise:
The building, having been damaged in the earthquake, was declared unsafe.
Common Mistakes
- Mistake:
I'm frustrated about having been ignored in these meetings.(While grammatically possible, if the ignoring happens in every meeting, it's a general, repeated action.being ignoredis more natural.) - Correct for general complaint:
I'm frustrated about being ignored in these meetings. - Correct for a specific past event:
He was frustrated after the meeting because of having been ignored when he raised his hand.(The ignoring is a single, completed event that caused the frustration.)
- Mistake:
*He complained about having been give the wrong address. - Mistake:
*Having been took by surprise, she didn't know what to say. - Correct:
He complained about having been given the wrong address. - Correct:
Having been taken by surprise, she didn't know what to say.
been- Mistake:
*She was proud of having chosen for the scholarship.(This means she did the choosing.) - Correct:
She was proud of having been chosen for the scholarship.(This means she was the one who was chosen.)
- Overly Formal:
Having been told the movie starts at 8, I arrived a bit early. - More Natural:
Someone told me the movie starts at 8, so I arrived a bit early.ORI was told the movie starts at 8, so...
Real Conversations
This structure is not confined to academic essays. Native speakers use it in professional and formal contexts to be efficient and clear. It also appears in reflective or narrative personal conversations.
In a Work Email:
> "Hi team,
> Just to clarify my role on Project Omega: having been assigned the data analysis workstream, I'll be focusing exclusively on the Q3 metrics. Please direct any technical queries to me from now on."
> Analysis: This is an efficient way to state the reason (I was assigned this) for the subsequent action (I'll be focusing on it).
In a Formal Presentation:
> "Our institution, having been founded in a different era, must now adapt to the challenges of the 21st century."
> Analysis: Replaces the longer, slightly more clunky "Our institution was founded in a different era, and so it must now adapt..."
In a Reflective Personal Story:
> "Looking back, having been given that opportunity so young was both a blessing and a curse. It forced me to mature quickly."
> Analysis: The speaker is framing a past, completed passive event (being given the opportunity) as the cause for their later development.
In Texting or Social Media (Less Common but Possible):
> "Feeling pretty good about having been selected for the beta test!"
> Analysis: More formal than "I got selected," this phrasing emphasizes the status or achievement of the selection.
Relaying a story or gossip:
> "So, the whole drama started because Mark, having been told a secret by Sarah, went and told everyone else."
> Analysis: This concisely provides the backstory before getting to the main point of the narrative.
Quick FAQ
being done describes a general or currently happening passive action, while having been done describes a completed passive action that occurred before another event.
In writing, yes, this is an excellent way to make your sentences more concise and formal. In casual speaking, the "After I was told..." construction is often more common and can sound more natural.
It's more characteristic of formal speech and writing. In casual conversation, people often use simpler conjunctions like so, because, or after to connect ideas, but you will hear it when a speaker wants to provide efficient background context.
No. When it starts a sentence to provide context or cause (Having been warned, she was careful), it functions as an adverbial phrase and needs no preposition.
Yes, this is a critical rule. The implied subject of the gerund phrase is always the subject of the main clause. The sentence *Having been repaired, I drove the car home is incorrect because it implies "I" was repaired. The correct form is The car, having been repaired, ran perfectly.
Perfect Passive Gerund Structure
| Polarity | Auxiliary 1 | Auxiliary 2 | Main Verb (V3) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
having
|
been
|
told
|
having been told
|
|
Negative
|
not having
|
been
|
told
|
not having been told
|
|
Question
|
About having
|
been
|
told?
|
Are you upset about having been told?
|
Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction | Usage Note |
|---|---|---|
|
Having been
|
None
|
This form is never contracted in formal English.
|
|
Not having been
|
None
|
Avoid contracting 'not' with 'having' in this specific structure.
|
Meanings
A verb form that functions as a noun, representing a completed action that was performed upon the subject at an earlier time.
Expressing Regret or Complaint
Used to describe past mistreatment or missed opportunities that cause current negative feelings.
“She expressed regret at having been passed over for the promotion.”
“I am tired of having been treated like a child by the management.”
Legal and Formal Reporting
Used in formal documents to refer to past events that have been officially recorded or verified.
“The defendant denied having been seen at the crime scene.”
“The report mentions the building having been inspected twice last year.”
Gratitude and Recognition
Used to acknowledge past help or honors received.
“I am grateful for having been given this opportunity to speak.”
“She was honored for having been chosen as the representative.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
having + been + V3
|
He mentioned having been promoted.
|
|
Negative
|
not + having + been + V3
|
She complained about not having been invited.
|
|
Prepositional
|
Preposition + having been + V3
|
I'm tired of having been ignored.
|
|
Subject
|
Having been + V3 + verb...
|
Having been chosen was a great honor.
|
|
After 'Deny'
|
deny + having been + V3
|
He denied having been involved.
|
|
After 'Regret'
|
regret + having been + V3
|
I regret having been persuaded.
|
Formality Spectrum
I wish to express my dissatisfaction regarding having been ignored by the staff. (Customer service complaint)
I'm upset about having been ignored. (Customer service complaint)
It sucks having been ignored like that. (Customer service complaint)
Getting ghosted after having been hyped up is trash. (Customer service complaint)
The Perfect Passive Gerund Anatomy
Time
- Perfect Completed past action
Voice
- Passive Action done TO the subject
Function
- Gerund Acts as a noun
Simple vs. Perfect Passive Gerund
Should I use Perfect Passive Gerund?
Is the action passive?
Is the action finished in the past?
Common Trigger Verbs
Memory/Speech
- • Mention
- • Deny
- • Recollect
- • Report
Feelings
- • Regret
- • Resent
- • Appreciate
- • Mind
Examples by Level
I like having been helped.
He is sad about having been left.
Thank you for having been kind.
She is happy about having been picked.
He talked about having been invited to the party.
She was angry about not having been told the truth.
They were proud of having been chosen for the team.
I don't remember having been seen there.
The actor complained about having been misquoted in the article.
She regretted having been persuaded to buy the expensive car.
He apologized for having been distracted during the lesson.
We were relieved at having been rescued from the storm.
The politician denied having been briefed on the security threat.
Having been warned about the risks, they decided to proceed anyway.
She was frustrated by having been overlooked for the lead role.
The company was fined for having been found guilty of pollution.
The CEO's resignation, having been prompted by the scandal, was inevitable.
He spoke eloquently about having been marginalized by society for years.
The manuscript shows signs of having been edited by multiple authors.
Not having been informed of the changes, the staff continued as usual.
The protagonist's existential dread stems from having been uprooted from his homeland.
The treaty was criticized for having been negotiated behind closed doors.
She attributed her success to having been mentored by the industry's finest.
The ruins bear witness to the city having been besieged for over a decade.
Easily Confused
Learners forget 'been', changing the meaning from passive to active.
Using 'being done' for past events.
Common Mistakes
I like having helped.
I like having been helped.
He is happy about having not been invited.
He is happy about not having been invited.
She denied having being told.
She denied having been told.
I regret being told that yesterday.
I regret having been told that yesterday.
Sentence Patterns
I am grateful for having been ___.
She denied having been ___ at the scene.
Real World Usage
I appreciate having been given the opportunity to lead that project.
The tenant complained about having been evicted without notice.
Tired of having been treated like an option when I made you a priority.
The data is unreliable due to the sensors having been calibrated incorrectly.
The patient reports having been diagnosed with asthma in childhood.
The claim was rejected due to the car having been left unlocked.
The Preposition Test
Avoid Double Passives
Formal Writing
Polite Complaints
Smart Tips
Replace 'I'm sorry that I was...' with 'I apologize for having been...'.
Check if the action is still happening. If it's 100% over, use 'having been'.
Always use 'having been' if the denial is about a specific past event.
Use a perfect passive gerund to delete 'that' and 'because'.
Pronunciation
The 'H' in Having
In rapid speech, the 'h' in 'having' is often dropped, sounding like 'avin'.
Reduction of 'Been'
The word 'been' is usually unstressed and sounds like 'bin'.
Stress on 'Not'
I'm angry about NOT having been told.
Emphasizes the lack of information.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
H.B.P. - Having Been Past. If it happened to you before, use these three for sure!
Visual Association
Imagine a 'Past' stamp being pressed onto a 'Passive' envelope. The stamp is 'Having' and the envelope is 'Been + V3'.
Rhyme
To show the past was done to you, 'Having been' is what you do!
Story
A detective finds a note. It says 'I regret having been caught.' The detective knows the thief is talking about the past arrest, not the current one.
Word Web
Challenge
Write three sentences about your last job using 'having been'. Example: 'I enjoyed having been challenged by my boss.'
Cultural Notes
British speakers use this form frequently in formal letters of complaint to maintain a polite but firm distance.
In US business, this form is used in performance reviews to highlight past achievements objectively.
Global academic English relies on this form to discuss historical theories that were later disproven.
The gerund evolved from Old English verbal nouns ending in -ung/-ing. The perfect and passive additions developed in Middle English as the language became more analytical.
Conversation Starters
Have you ever regretted having been persuaded to do something?
How do you feel about having been raised in your hometown?
Can you mention a time you were proud of having been chosen for a task?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
He was disappointed about not ___ to the wedding.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
He denied having being seen at the bank.
He was punished for ___.
The word 'not' comes after 'having' in the perfect passive gerund.
A: Why is she so happy? B: She's thrilled about ___ for the scholarship.
Identify the form:
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesHe was disappointed about not ___ to the wedding.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
He denied having being seen at the bank.
He was punished for ___.
The word 'not' comes after 'having' in the perfect passive gerund.
A: Why is she so happy? B: She's thrilled about ___ for the scholarship.
Identify the form:
Active: 'Having seen' -> Passive: ?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesThe new policy, ___ by the board, was implemented last week.
He was accused of stolen the company's data.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Después de haber sido despedido, él buscó un nuevo empleo.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the subjects with the correct form:
She expressed relief at ___ a second chance.
She remembered being interviewed for the job a year ago.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Ella se quejaba de haber sido tratada injustamente.'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the scenarios:
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
'Being done' is for current or general actions. 'Having been done' is for specific actions that are already finished.
Yes! For example: 'Having been warned, I was careful.' However, in that case, it is technically a 'Perfect Participle', not a gerund.
Yes, when followed by a past participle (V3), it is always passive.
'Been' is the passive marker. Without it, 'having told' means you told someone else.
It is less common in casual speech but very common in professional and academic English.
Yes, but 'there' is an adverb, so this is the perfect active form of 'to be'. For the passive gerund, you need a V3 like 'I regret not having been invited.'
It only works with transitive verbs (verbs that can have an object) because only transitive verbs can be passive.
You usually put it inside a question: 'Are you upset about having been ignored?'
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Haber sido + participio
English uses the -ing form after prepositions, while Spanish uses the infinitive.
Avoir été + participe passé
French requires 'de' or 'à' before the infinitive, similar to English prepositions.
[Partizip II] + worden zu sein
Word order is the primary struggle for learners moving between these two.
〜されたこと (sareta koto)
Japanese doesn't have a specific 'perfect' aspect in the same way; the past tense covers it.
كونه قد [verb]
Arabic grammar is root-based and doesn't use auxiliary 'having'.
被...过 (bèi...guò)
Chinese relies on word order and particles rather than verb conjugation.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
Past Perfect: The 'Before' Past (had + done)
Overview The **Past Perfect** tense serves a crucial function in English: it allows you to clearly communicate that one...
Passive Gerunds: Being (receiving the action)
Overview The passive gerund, formed by `being` + the **past participle** of a main verb, is a sophisticated grammatical...
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