Done and having been done are two types of verb forms, commonly referred to as participles. Although they might appear similar at first glance, there are notable differences between them. In this article, we aim to explore the distinctions between these two verb forms and provide examples to help illustrate their use.
The Usage of Done as a Participle
Done serves as the past participle of the verb do. It typically functions as an adjective to describe the objects in a sentence. For instance, in the phrase \"a done deal,\" done modifies the noun deal to imply that it has been completed. Done is also used to form the present perfect tense in sentences where the present perfect form is in use.
For example, \"I have done my homework\" incorporates the past participle done to indicate that the act of homework completion has been finished. It is worth noting that, in such cases, the use of the present perfect tense requires a linking verb such as \"have\" or \"has,\" which complements the past participle of \"do.\"
The Usage of Having Been Done as a Participle
Having been done, on the other hand, functions as the past participle of the compound verb phrase \"have been done.\" It is commonly used in the present perfect tense to signify that an action occurred in the past, and has since been completed. The added feature in this case is that the verb is in the present perfect continuous tense.
For example, \"The report having been done by John, it was ready for submission.\" The presence of \"having been done\" indicates that the report had been completed before the moment recounted in the sentence. Additionally, the use of the present perfect continuous is there to provide a precise timestamp of completion of the report.
The Difference Between Done and Having Been Done
The primary difference between done and having been done is that the former is a past participle used to describe a completed action or state, whereas the latter is a present perfect continuous participle used to explain how a task was done. What's more, done may appear to be a standalone participle in a sentence, whereas having been done is always together with the auxiliary verb \"have.\"
To make the distinction even more apparent, consider the case \"I have done the dishes while you were away.\" In this instance, done indicates that washing the dishes is complete, and the present perfect auxiliary verb have shows the relationship between the past and the present. On the other hand, \"The meals were delicious, having been made correctly by the chefs.\" In this example, having been made correctly shows the continuous action of making the meals and how they were made correctly from start to finish.
In conclusion, it is essential to distinguish between the use of \"done\" and \"having been done\" as participles. While done denotes a completed action or state, having been done describes a task completed over a period in the past. Mastering the usage of each form is crucial in writing and speaking effectively in English.
