I still been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I still been" is not correct in standard written English.
It is an incorrect construction and does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "I still been waiting for your response."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

"And had I still been involved in the service, I would have been probably very angry".

Independent

"When I became secretary of state, I realised that, though others might, I would never have climbed that high had I still been married.

The Guardian

I'd like to think that had I still been teaching in a school, I would have taken a stand and gone on strike in support.

The Guardian

And that, I think, might have been the problem this morning with Tommy Robinson – it wasn't a bad interview and I'd certainly have put it on air had I still been editor.

The Guardian

And at a time when I was an absolute pariah in the Labour party, I wanted some means of telling the world, 'So you, oh Labour party, who think I'm this terrible pariah, you are being kicked all over the place, some of you are being threatened with prison, and that would have been entirely different had I still been doing that job.

The Guardian

I am myself, as it happens, a former political editor of that newspaper and I hope that had I still been a member of the staff last Saturday night I might have prevented such a piece of silliness from being published.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

And I still am.

The New York Times

"Actually, I still am.

The New York Times - Sports

I still am fascinated.

The New York Times

"I still am.

The New York Times

I think I still am".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use proper auxiliary verbs with "still" to form correct tenses. For example, use "I am still" or "I have still been" depending on the intended meaning.

Common error

Do not omit necessary auxiliary verbs when using "still". Saying "I still been" is grammatically incorrect. Instead, use "I have still been" or "I am still".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I still been" is an attempt to express a continuing state or action but lacks the necessary auxiliary verb, making it grammatically incomplete. Ludwig AI marks this as an incorrect construction.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I still been" is grammatically incorrect in standard English and should be avoided. Ludwig AI indicates that this construction does not conform to standard grammatical rules. While the intention might be to express a continuing state or action, it is important to use correct auxiliary verbs such as "am", "have", or "has" to form grammatically sound sentences like "I am still" or "I have still been". Using correct grammar ensures clear and effective communication in both formal and informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I have still been

This alternative adds the auxiliary verb "have" to form the present perfect continuous tense, correcting the grammatical structure.

I am still being

This uses the present continuous passive voice, which might be appropriate if referring to an action being done to the subject.

I'm still

A shortened version of "I am still", requiring an adjective or verb to complete the meaning, but grammatically sound.

I continue to be

Emphasizes the continuation of a state, suitable for formal contexts.

I remain

A more formal way of expressing that something has not changed.

I am still

A simple present tense construction followed by an adjective, requires an adjective to complete the meaning.

I'm still in the process of

Indicates ongoing action or development.

I'm still occupied with

This uses 'occupied with' to denote the continuation of an engagement.

I'm continually

Use 'continually' to show repetitive persistence in a state or activity.

I still find myself

This alternative highlights the feeling of continued action.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "still" with a verb in the present tense?

You should use "am still" followed by a present participle (e.g., "I am still waiting") or "have/has still been" followed by a present participle (e.g., "I have still been working"). The phrase "I still been" is grammatically incorrect.

What can I say instead of "I still been" to express a continuing action?

Alternatives include "I am still", "I have still been", or depending on the intended nuance, "I continue to".

Is "I still been" ever considered grammatically correct in any dialect?

In standard English, "I still been" is not grammatically correct. While some non-standard dialects might use similar constructions, it's best to avoid this phrase in formal or professional contexts.

What's the difference between "I am still" and "I have still been"?

"I am still" usually describes a state or condition that continues, while "I have still been" describes an action that started in the past and continues to the present.