Have been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Have been" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate a continuous action or state that started in the past and continues to the present. Example: "I have been studying English for five years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We have been nowhere.

The New York Times

None have been captured.

Independent

Lawsuits have been threatened.

The New York Times

None have been shown.

The New York Times

"They have been invisible.

The New York Times

Charges have been brought.

The New York Times

Results have been impressive.

The New York Times

Projects have been postponed.

The Economist

Papers have been lost.

Independent

Lawsuits have been prepared.

The New York Times

Sales have been steady.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been" to describe actions or states that started in the past and continue to the present, ensuring your verb tense accurately reflects the duration of the activity. For example, "They "have been" working on the project for six months."

Common error

Avoid using "have been" with singular subjects; instead, use "has been". For instance, it's incorrect to say "He have been", the correct form is "He has been".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Have been" functions primarily as an auxiliary verb used to form the present perfect continuous tense. This tense indicates actions or states that began in the past and continue into the present. Ludwig confirms its correct grammatical usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

89%

Science

6%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "Have been" is a grammatically sound and versatile auxiliary verb combination, widely employed to construct the present perfect continuous tense. Ludwig AI confirms its accurate usage and prevalence across various reputable sources, most notably in news and media. While primarily functioning to describe ongoing actions or states, its neutral register makes it suitable for both formal and informal communication. To ensure correct usage, pay attention to subject-verb agreement and choose this phrase to communicate continuity from a past event up to the present.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Has been

Changes the verb form to singular, suitable for singular subjects.

Had been

Shifts the timeframe to the past perfect tense.

Were

Uses a simple past tense to describe events.

Have existed

Emphasizes existence rather than a continuous state.

Have occurred

Focuses on the occurrence of events or actions.

Have remained

Indicates a state of staying the same over time.

Have experienced

Highlights the act of undergoing something.

Have undergone

Similar to 'have experienced', but often implies a process or change.

Been

Uses a past participle to show action.

Were being

Uses a verb to show state of being.

FAQs

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

"Have been" is used to form the present perfect continuous tense, indicating an action that started in the past and continues to the present. For example, "I "have been" studying English for five years".

What can I say instead of "Have been"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "have existed", "have remained", or "have occurred". The choice depends on the specific meaning you want to convey.

Which is correct, "Have been" or "Has been"?

"Have been" is used with plural subjects (e.g., they, we, you, I), while "Has been" is used with singular subjects (e.g., he, she, it). For example, "They "have been" working" vs. "He "has been" working".

What's the difference between "Have been" and "Had been"?

"Have been" is used in the present perfect continuous tense, while "Had been" is used in the past perfect continuous tense. "Have been" connects a past action to the present, whereas "Had been" refers to an action completed before another point in the past.