the use of "have been and will be"

[optimistic pessimist]

Dear all,

I'd like to make sure the use of the expression in the title.

Does it make sense if I say, "John Lennon has been and will be my hero for the rest of my life"?

Thank you!

OP

 

[Uncle M]

"John Lennon has been and will be my hero for the rest of my life"?

Yes, it makes sense grammatically, but the sentence doesn't work as a whole. If you remove the words 'and will be' the remaining sentence doesn't make sense as 'has been' indicates in the past, whereas 'for the rest of my life suggests the future.

I would rephrase thus:

"John Lennon has been and always will be my hero.

Then you don't need to mention the rest of your life

Uncle M (not a teacher)