Jimalton's comments

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Grammar.com
In your sentence, "have
been", of course, is the present perfect which when used as a verb
indicates some activity or state that has recently completed. In your
sentence the verb is the past passive "was meant"; and "to have been" is
in the form of a verb but is not performing as a verb but as a
preposition conveying more meaning than the alternative preposition
"as" such as that the surprise was not surprising, whereas "as" would
not convey that meaning. 

1 year ago

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Quiz

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Identify the sentence with correct use of the preposition 'during':
A He walked during the storm.
B They had a picnic during the summer.
C She read a book during the flight.
D The cat is hiding during the noise.