Has been

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been" is a correct and commonly used form in written English.
It is the present perfect tense of the verb "to be" and is used to describe an action that began in the past and is still ongoing or has just recently finished. Example: She has been studying French for five years. (This implies that she is still studying French.) Example: The novel has been on the bestseller list for six weeks. (This implies that it is still on the list or has only recently come off.) Example: The building has been under construction for months. (This implies that construction is still ongoing or has just recently finished.) In general, "has been" is used in the present perfect tense to describe past actions with a connection to the present. It is often used with time expressions such as "for," "since," and "just."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

has been.

The New Yorker

Inaction has been catastrophic.

The New York Times

Compensation has been meagre.

The Economist

And he has been.

Independent

Nobody has been arrested.

Independent

"Everything has been stopped".

The New York Times

He has been demoted.

The Economist

Adoption has been fast.

The New York Times

Brady has been good.

The New York Times

Progress has been good.

The New Yorker

Tuchman has been supplanted.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been" to connect past actions or states to their present relevance. This helps to show the continuity or impact of past events on the current situation.

Common error

Avoid using "has been" when describing a single, completed action in the past that has no present relevance; use the simple past tense instead. For example, instead of "He has been there yesterday", use "He was there yesterday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been" functions as an auxiliary verb phrase, forming the present perfect continuous or passive voice. It combines with a past participle or gerund to indicate completed or ongoing actions from the past that have relevance to the present. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

26%

Science

26%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been" is a versatile auxiliary verb phrase used to form the present perfect continuous and passive voices, effectively linking past actions to the present. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and frequently used across diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science. When using "has been", ensure it accurately reflects the ongoing or presently relevant nature of the action, avoiding its misuse for single, completed past actions. Remembering this tip will help prevent common errors and enhance clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Has proved to be

Indicates that something has demonstrated a certain quality or characteristic over time.

Had been

Indicates a state or action completed before another point in the past, indicating a sequence of past events.

Continues to be

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of a state or condition.

Was considered to be

Indicates a past perception or belief about something.

Was

Indicates a state or condition that existed in the past, simpler tense than "has been".

Turned out to be

Suggests a discovery or realization about the nature of something.

Evolved into

Highlights the process of transformation over a period of time.

Is

Indicates a current state or condition, a shift to present tense from past.

Became known as

Indicates the establishment of a name or identity.

Is now

Shift the focus to the present state or condition.

FAQs

How do I use "has been" in a sentence?

"Has been" is used to describe actions or states that started in the past and continue to the present, or have a present result. For example: "She "has been working" on this project for months".

What's the difference between "has been" and "had been"?

"Has been" connects the past to the present, while "had been" refers to something completed before another point in the past. For instance, "She "has been" a teacher for 10 years" (still teaching), versus "She "had been" a teacher before becoming a principal" (no longer teaching).

What can I say instead of "has been" to sound more formal?

In formal contexts, consider alternatives like "has proven to be", "has demonstrated", or "has been shown to be". For example, instead of "The research "has been" conclusive", you might say "The research "has proven to be" conclusive".

When should I avoid using "has been"?

Avoid using "has been" if the action is completely finished and has no present relevance. In such cases, the simple past tense is more appropriate. For example, instead of "He "has been" to Paris last year", use "He went to Paris last year".