has been keeping

USAGE SUMMARY

'has been keeping' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an ongoing action that started in the past and is continuing up to the present. For example, "He has been keeping his promise to visit every week since they moved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The trouble has been keeping it.

The New York Times - Sports

The problem has been keeping them on the mountain.

The New York Times

Besides, Dara has been keeping to herself a lot lately.

The New Yorker

He has been keeping a low profile lately.

The New Yorker

Another challenge has been keeping peace among Tour members.

The Guardian - Sport

"But recently it has been keeping me awake at night.

The Guardian

Mulligan has been keeping starry company of late.

The Guardian - Film

He has been keeping honeybees for forty-five years.

The New Yorker

Maybe Ms. Bartley has been keeping her eye on Nascar.

The New York Times

Riddick has been keeping the faith for some time now.

The Guardian - Music

Ms. Courtin has been keeping something from us.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been keeping", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being maintained, preserved, or continued. The phrase works best when the action started in the past and continues to the present.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses when using "has been keeping". Once you establish the present perfect continuous tense, maintain consistency throughout the sentence and related clauses.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been keeping" functions as a present perfect continuous verb phrase. It describes an action that started in the past and is still ongoing. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Wiki

9%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been keeping" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to describe ongoing actions or states that began in the past and continue into the present. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It is commonly found in news, media, and scientific contexts. To enhance your writing, ensure tense consistency and clearly define what is being maintained or continued. Alternatives such as "has been maintaining" or "has been preserving" can add nuance depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been maintaining

Focuses more on the act of maintaining a status or condition.

has been preserving

Emphasizes the act of keeping something intact or unchanged.

has been retaining

Highlights the act of holding onto something.

has been upholding

Implies maintaining a principle or standard.

has been conserving

Suggests preserving resources or energy.

has continued to keep

Adds emphasis on the continuous nature of the action.

has consistently kept

Highlights the consistency of the action over time.

has always kept

Indicates that something has been kept without exception.

has diligently kept

Emphasizes the careful and persistent nature of keeping something.

has reliably kept

Focuses on the dependable nature of maintaining something.

FAQs

How can I use "has been keeping" in a sentence?

Use "has been keeping" to describe an ongoing action that began in the past and continues into the present. For example, "She "has been keeping" a journal for five years".

What are some alternatives to "has been keeping"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "has been maintaining", "has been preserving", or "has been retaining".

What's the difference between "has been keeping" and "kept"?

"Has been keeping" indicates a continuous action from the past to the present, while "kept" refers to a completed action in the past. For example, "She "has been keeping" the secret" (ongoing) versus "She kept the secret" (completed).

Is it correct to say "has been keep" instead of "has been keeping"?

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