participle

[mshahri]

Dear teacher ,

Let’s refer to the following sentence ;

‘Whatever the origin of the term , a barbecue “has been” now not only a means of cooking but an event as well’.

Could you please comment on grammar or misuse of words.Is it appropriate if we replace “has been” with “is”?.

TQ

[Pete]

Dear teacher ,

Let’s refer to the following sentence ;

‘Whatever the origin of the term , a barbecue “has been” now not only a means of cooking but an event as well’.

Could you please comment on grammar or misuse of words.Is it appropriate if we replace “has been” with “is”?.

TQ
It is correct either way. The meaning is essentially the same. "Is" states that this is a regular occurrence. The "has been" seems somehow more a statement about the way things have been up until now; to me, it gives the impression that you are saying what you have seen to happen, as compared with stating an abstract truth of the way things are.