Present Perfect – Is ‘Have Been Concerned’ Present Perfect?

present-perfect

I'm a bit confused with the present perfect form. I know that it is formed using has/have + past participle. But in the following sentence, there's a been included too.

"Psychologists and the public alike have been concerned that violent video game exposure has the potential to increase aggression on a societal level."

I'm not really sure that this sentence is in present perfect. But if it is, can someone explain why?

Thanks a lot!

Best Answer

This is indeed the present perfect tense. It's not so much that a been has been included (sorry), but that the word been itself is the past participle of the verb 'to be.'

So in this case concerned is simply a predicative adjective that isn't part of the verb.

EDIT:

As @aml has pointed out, this is actually the present perfect passive form of 'to concern.' The sentence in the active voice would be

That violent video game exposure has the potential to increase aggression on a societal level has concerned psychologists and the public alike.

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