has been going

USAGE SUMMARY

'has been going' is a correct and usable expression in written English.
It is used to describe an ongoing action or situation that began in the past and is still continuing in the present. Example: She has been going to the same gym for over two years.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So what has been going on?

Independent

"Nothing has been going on there".

The New York Times

This has been going on for years".

The New York Times

This has been going quite well.

The New York Times

It has been going on too long".

Independent

It has been going on since 2005.

The New York Times

It has been going for 50 years.

The Economist

"This has been going on for months".

The New York Times

It has been going on for decades.

The New York Times - Sports

Otherwise, the referendum has been going well.

The New York Times

It has been going great.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been going" to describe actions or situations that started in the past and are still in progress. For example: "The project "has been going" smoothly since its inception."

Common error

Avoid using "has been going" when referring to completed actions in the past. Use the past perfect tense instead. For example, instead of "He has been going to the store yesterday", say "He went to the store yesterday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been going" functions as the present perfect continuous tense, indicating an action or state that began in the past and is still in progress. It is used to emphasize the duration or continuity of the action, as evidenced by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been going" is a versatile and commonly used phrase in the English language, functioning as the present perfect continuous tense. It describes actions or situations that began in the past and are still ongoing, as confirmed by Ludwig's analysis. The phrase is generally neutral in register and appears frequently in news media, as well as scientific and business contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, making it a reliable choice for describing continuing processes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been continuing

Stresses the uninterrupted nature of an action or event.

has been progressing

Focuses more on the advancement or forward movement of something.

has been underway

Emphasizes that something is in progress or happening now.

has been proceeding

Suggests a structured or planned progression.

has been happening

Highlights the occurrence of events or incidents.

has been advancing

Highlights the forward momentum and progress being made.

has been developing

Implies growth or evolution over time.

has been evolving

Focuses on the gradual change and adaptation over time.

has been unfolding

Conveys a sense of gradual revelation or unveiling.

has been transpiring

Indicates the occurrence of events, often in a formal context.

FAQs

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

"Has been going" indicates a continuous action that started in the past and is still happening. For example: "The negotiation "has been going" on for weeks."

What are some alternatives to "has been going"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "has been continuing", "has been happening", or "has been progressing".

Is it correct to say "has been go" instead of "has been going"?

No, "has been go" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""has been going"", which uses the present participle form of the verb "go".

What's the difference between "has been going" and "went"?

"Has been going" describes an ongoing action, while "went" refers to a completed action in the past. For example, "She "has been going" to therapy for years" (ongoing), versus "She "went to therapy" last week" (completed).