has been sitting

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been sitting" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe an action that has been taking place over a period of time. For example, "She has been sitting in the garden all day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He has been sitting in on rehearsals, but only intermittently.

The Guardian

But since then, he has been sitting on his hands.

The New Yorker

"It came by U-Haul and has been sitting outside.

The New York Times

It has been sitting on my bookshelves for about a year, awaiting the right moment.

Stanford University

The cabinet has been sitting most of the day to draw up these plans.

The Guardian

You don't believe the place has been sitting on Bedford Avenue for ages.

The New York Times - Food

"The prize has been sitting on a shelf somewhere for the last 20 years," he says.

The Guardian

"This is not a building that has been sitting around empty for years," he said.

The New York Times

"The F.D.A. has been sitting on these proposals for many, many years," Mr. Reed said.

The New York Times - Science

Especially someone who has been sitting inside for ten years writing a book.

The New Yorker

For a month now, the Ferrari of home coffee machines has been sitting on my counter.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been sitting" to describe a person, consider the connotations. It can imply inactivity, patience, or even boredom depending on the context. Choose the phrase that best suits the intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "has been sitting" when you mean a single, completed act of sitting. Use "sat" or "was sitting" to describe a completed action in the past. "Has been sitting" implies an ongoing action or state.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been sitting" functions as a present perfect continuous verb phrase. It describes an action (sitting) that began in the past, continues into the present, and may or may not still be occurring. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been sitting" is a grammatically correct and very common present perfect continuous phrase used to describe an ongoing action of sitting that started in the past. Examples from Ludwig highlight its usage across diverse contexts, including news, academia, and general writing. While the phrase itself maintains a neutral register, consider the context to ensure it appropriately conveys the intended meaning, whether it's continuous activity, patience, or inactivity. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely accepted in English writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has remained seated

Focuses more specifically on the physical act of remaining in a seated position.

has been located

Emphasizes the state of being situated in a particular place over time.

has stayed put

Highlights the act of not moving from a specific location.

has been residing

Indicates a longer-term presence or habitation in a place.

has been stationed

Implies a formal or official placement in a certain location.

has been installed

Suggests a more permanent fixture or placement in a location.

has persisted

Highlights the continuation of a condition or state over time.

has continued

Focuses on the ongoing nature of an action or state without specifying a physical location.

has existed

Simply states the presence of something over a period of time.

has been inactive

Shifts the focus to a lack of activity or movement.

FAQs

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

Use "has been sitting" to describe an action of sitting that started in the past and is still ongoing or has recently finished. For example, "She "has been sitting" there for hours" indicates a continuous action.

What's the difference between "has been sitting" and "sat"?

"Has been sitting" implies a continuous action, while "sat" indicates a completed action in the past. "He "has been sitting"" suggests he is still sitting or has just finished, whereas "He sat" means he completed the action of sitting.

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

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "has remained seated" to emphasize the physical act, or "has stayed put" to highlight the lack of movement.

Is "has been sitting" formal or informal?

"Has been sitting" is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The formality depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the situation than on the phrase itself.