Being vs To be

[zaghum]

Hi,
I have always been confused between the usage of "Being" and "To be".For instance, in the following examples which onw should I use.

A friend has come to my house.
a)Thanks for being here.(I assume that it has the same meaning as "Thanks for coming").
b)Thanks to be here.

2)That friend is leaving.
a)It was great having you here
b)It has been great having you here

I would really appreciate any opinions.

 

[emsr2d2]

Hi,
I have always been confused between the usage of "Being" and "To be". (space required here) For instance, in the following examples which [strike]onw[/strike] one should I use.

A friend has come to my house.
a)Thanks for being here. (Space required here.) (I assume that it has the same meaning as "Thanks for coming"). :tick:
b)Thanks to be here. :cross:

2)That friend is leaving.
a)It was great having you here. :tick:
b)It has been great having you here. :tick:

I would really appreciate any opinions.

See above.

 

[tedmc]

1a is correct but "thanks for coming" is more natural.

1b is not correct. You use "to be" for something that has yet to happen.

2a and 2b are both correct. The perfect tense in 2b is preferred as it refers to the things that happened until the time the statement was made. 2a refers to what was past.

Not a teacher

 

[zaghum]

Thanks a lot for taking your time to answer my question. I must say that the answer was quite clear. But you said "To be" is used for something that has yet to happen, whereas I was watching an English program this morning in which the guest said to the ancor "It was great to be on your show". How can you justify this.

 

[emsr2d2]

... I was watching an English program this morning in which the guest said to the anchor "It was great to be on your show". How can you justify this?

There is nothing wrong with that quote at all. Contrary to tedmc's assertion, "to be" can be used in a variety of tenses.

I always wanted to be a doctor.
When I was six, I didn't know what I wanted to be.