has been buying

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of a sentence "has been buying" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a way to express that something has been happening for some time in the past up until the present. For example, "She has been buying souvenirs for her family since her trip to Egypt last summer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He has been buying art, too.

The New Yorker

The bank has been buying time.

The New York Times

Less clear is why she has been buying Western art.

The Economist

As a result, he has been buying all new clothes.

The New York Times

Since then, the competition has been buying up distribution.

The Economist

He has been buying horses at various sales ever since.

The New York Times - Sports

She has been buying bottled water since Saturday.

The New York Times

That is why he has been buying Telewest bonds.

The New York Times

For years, Charlie Trotter has been buying from this farm.

The New York Times - Food

Mr. Holland has been buying Citigroup stock in recent weeks.

The New York Times

Mr. Nasgovitz at Heartland Value has been buying stocks.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been buying" to describe an action that started in the past and continues into the present. This implies a repeated or ongoing activity, not a one-time purchase.

Common error

Avoid using "has been buying" to describe a single, completed purchase in the past. Use "bought" or "has bought" instead to indicate a finished action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been buying" functions as a present perfect continuous verb phrase. Ludwig AI indicates this construction describes an action that began in the past, continues to the present, and may continue into the future. It emphasizes the duration of the action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Academia

23%

Formal & Business

23%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been buying" functions as a present perfect continuous verb phrase, indicating an action that started in the past and continues to the present. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and broad applicability. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media, academic, and business contexts. When using "has been buying", ensure it accurately reflects a continuous action rather than a single, completed purchase. Consider alternatives such as "has purchased" or "has acquired" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Understanding these nuances allows for precise and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has purchased

Focuses specifically on the completed act of acquiring something.

has acquired

Suggests a more formal or significant acquisition, often of a company or asset.

has obtained

Emphasizes the act of gaining possession, possibly through effort or difficulty.

has invested in

Highlights the financial aspect of the purchase, implying a return is expected.

has been procuring

Indicates the act of obtaining something, especially with care or effort.

has secured

Suggests the act of making something safe or certain.

has come to possess

More formal way of saying "has", implying ownership or control.

has started acquiring

Indicates the beginning of a process of acquisition, rather than ongoing activity.

has moved to buy

Emphasis is on the action or decision to buy.

has elected to purchase

Suggests a formal decision-making process before buying.

FAQs

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

Use "has been buying" to describe an action that started in the past and continues into the present. For example, "She "has been buying" organic food for years."

What's the difference between "has been buying" and "has bought"?

"Has been buying" indicates a continuous action that started in the past and is still happening, whereas "has bought" indicates a completed action in the past that has relevance to the present.

What can I say instead of "has been buying"?

You can use alternatives like "has purchased", "has acquired", or "has invested in depending on the context".

When is it appropriate to use "has been procuring" instead of "has been buying"?

"Has been procuring" implies a more formal or careful process of obtaining something, often in a business or official context, whereas "has been buying" is a more general term.