has been taking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been taking" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used in the present perfect continuous tense, which is used to express an action that started in the past and is still happening. For example: She has been taking piano lessons for over two years.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Disney has been taking more risks lately.

The New York Times

Luckily, Flash has been taking flying lessons.

The Guardian - Film

She has been taking meldonium ever since.

The New Yorker

Lately, though, she has been taking her Emmy to work.

The New Yorker

11.19am: Vince Cable has been taking questions in the Commons.

The Guardian

Mr. Cuomo has been taking his message around the state.

The New York Times

Altman said that he has been taking online courses.

The New Yorker

Sprint has been taking pre-orders on its Web site.

The New York Times

Waiting has been taking two or three hours.

The Economist

The government has been taking a tough line, too.

The Economist

Mr. Fouhse has been taking photos for about 35 years.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been taking" to describe actions that started in the past and are still ongoing or have recently finished. For example, "She "has been taking" dance classes for five years."

Common error

Avoid using "has been taking" to describe actions that are completed and have no relevance to the present. Use the past perfect tense instead. For example, instead of "She has been taking the test yesterday", say "She had taken the test yesterday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been taking" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense. It indicates an action that started in the past and is still ongoing or has recently finished. Ludwig examples show its use in various contexts, from describing ongoing lessons to prolonged medication intake.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

24%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The analysis reveals that the phrase "has been taking" is a grammatically correct and very common verb phrase used to describe ongoing or recently completed actions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used in the present perfect continuous tense and appears frequently in news, scientific, and business contexts. While versatile, it's important to avoid misusing it for actions that are completely finished and have no bearing on the present. Remember to use alternative phrases like "has been undertaking" or "has been engaging in" for varied expressions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been undertaking

Replaces "taking" with a more formal verb, implying a deliberate effort or task.

has been engaging in

Emphasizes active participation or involvement in a particular activity.

has been participating in

Highlights the act of taking part in something, often an organized event or program.

has been involved in

Focuses on being connected to or associated with a particular activity or situation.

has been consuming

Specifically used when referring to ingesting food, drinks, or other substances.

has been ingesting

A more formal alternative to "consuming," typically used in scientific or medical contexts.

has been administering

Implies a formal or official action of giving or managing something, like medication.

has been carrying out

Suggests the execution or implementation of a plan, task, or experiment.

has been conducting

Used for formal activities such as research or investigations.

has been pursuing

Implies actively following or striving for a goal or objective.

FAQs

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

Use "has been taking" to indicate an action that began in the past and is continuing into the present, or has recently concluded. For instance, "He "has been taking" online courses to improve his skills."

What phrases are similar to "has been taking"?

Alternatives include "has been undertaking", "has been engaging in", or "has been participating in", each with slightly different nuances.

Is it correct to say "had been taking" instead of "has been taking"?

The choice depends on the context. "Has been taking" indicates a present perfect continuous tense, while "had been taking" indicates a past perfect continuous tense. Use "had been taking" for actions completed before a specific point in the past. For example: "He had been taking medication before he got sick".

What is the difference between "has been taking" and "took"?

"Has been taking" describes an action that started in the past and continues to the present or has recently finished. "Took" refers to a completed action in the past with no direct connection to the present. For instance, "He "has been taking" guitar lessons for a year" versus "He took a guitar lesson yesterday".