been years

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "been years" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a significant amount of time has passed since a particular event or situation occurred. Example: "It has been years since we last saw each other."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It's been years since we've seen him.

The Guardian - Music

It had been years!

Independent

"I mean, it's been years".

The New York Times - Books

This has been years in the making.

The New York Times - Food

"It's been years of doing nothing.

Independent

It has been years in the making.

The Economist

It's been years.

The New York Times - Arts

It's been years since I was mugged.

The New York Times

"Sometimes it seems like it's been years.

The New York Times - Sports

It's been years since that happened, though".

The New York Times

It's been years but be patient.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "been years", ensure the context clearly indicates what event or period is being referenced. This avoids ambiguity and makes your writing more precise.

Common error

Avoid using "been years" with present tenses. It typically requires a past perfect or present perfect construction (e.g., "It has been years" or "It had been years") to correctly convey the passage of time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "been years" functions as part of a temporal expression, typically following an auxiliary verb like 'has' or 'had'. It signifies the duration of time that has elapsed since a particular event or situation. Ludwig AI confirms its validity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "been years" is a common and grammatically sound way to express the passage of a considerable amount of time. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is frequently used in various contexts, ranging from news and media to science and informal communications. When using this phrase, ensure that you use the correct tense (present perfect or past perfect) and that the context clearly identifies what you are referencing. While alternatives like "it's been a long time" and "it's been ages" exist, "been years" provides a clear and concise way to convey the duration of time. Understanding its correct usage and context will enhance the clarity and precision of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's been a long time

Uses a more general expression for a significant duration.

it's been ages

Emphasizes a very long duration in an informal way.

many years have passed

A more formal and descriptive way to express the passage of time.

it has been a considerable time

Highlights the length of the duration with emphasis.

years have elapsed

A formal way to state that time has gone by.

a significant time has gone by

Stresses the importance of the duration.

it feels like a lifetime

Expresses a subjective feeling of a very long time.

it's been donkey's years

An informal, British English expression for a very long time.

time has flown by

Indicates the passage of years, often used when time passed quickly.

it seems like centuries

Exaggerates the feeling of a long duration.

FAQs

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

The phrase "been years" typically appears in constructions like "It has been years since..." or "There have been years of...". For example, "It has been years since I saw her" or "There have been years of research on this topic".

What can I say instead of "been years"?

You can use alternatives like "it's been a long time", "it's been ages", or "many years have passed" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "it was been years"?

No, "it was been years" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "it has been years" (present perfect) or "it had been years" (past perfect), depending on the context.

What is the difference between "it has been years" and "it had been years"?

"It has been years" refers to a period extending to the present. "It had been years" refers to a period concluded in the past. For example, "It has been years since I visited Paris" (and I still haven't), whereas "It had been years since I visited Paris when I finally returned" (the return is in the past).