has been throwing

USAGE SUMMARY

"has been throwing" is a grammatically correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is formed from the present perfect tense of the verb "throw," with the auxiliary verb "has" and the past participle "been." This phrase indicates that an action of throwing has been ongoing or repeated in the past up until now. It can be used to describe an action that started in the past and is still continuing, or to describe a recent action that has an impact on the present. Example: "The baseball player has been throwing the ball with great speed and accuracy since the beginning of the game." Here, the phrase "has been throwing" emphasizes that the player's throwing action has been consistently impressive throughout the game so far. Another example: "My neighbor's annoying cat has been throwing up in my garden again, and it's ruining my plants." In this sentence, "has been throwing up" shows that the cat's behavior of throwing up in the garden has been happening repeatedly and causing ongoing frustration for the speaker.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Conversation

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"But he has been throwing some bullpens".

The New York Times - Sports

"She has been throwing up," he said.

The Guardian

The quarterback who is overwhelming everything has been throwing elsewhere.

The New York Times - Sports

Federer has been throwing everything at Isner, using his arsenal of spin and power.

The New York Times

Sabathia has been throwing bullpen sessions and is expected to face hitters Tuesday.

The New York Times - Sports

He has been throwing a football to keep his right arm in shape.

The New York Times

(Sean, who has been throwing the knuckleball for much longer, offered Zink some pointers).

The New Yorker

"China has been throwing billions and billions of dollars at research and development," he said.

The New York Times

(Josh) Lindblom has been throwing pretty well and (Nate) Schierholtz has contributed.

The New York Times

From its perceived position of growing economic strength, China has been throwing its weight around.

The Economist

He has been throwing since mid-December at the Port St. Lucie Sports Complex.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has been throwing" to emphasize the ongoing or repeated nature of the throwing action. For example, "The quarterback has been throwing accurately all game."

Common error

Avoid using "has been throwing" when a simple past tense ("threw") or present perfect ("has thrown") would be more appropriate. For example, don't say "He has been throwing the ball yesterday"; instead, use "He threw the ball yesterday."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been throwing" functions as the present perfect continuous tense of the verb "throw". It describes an action that started in the past and continues into the present or has recently ceased, emphasizing the duration or continuity of the action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically sound construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Sports

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

6%

Wiki

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been throwing" is a versatile and commonly used present perfect continuous tense construction. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It serves to emphasize the ongoing or repetitive nature of an action that started in the past and continues to the present. As demonstrated by the examples, the phrase appears frequently in contexts related to news, sports, and general conversation. While generally neutral in tone, consider alternatives like "has consistently thrown" for more formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has consistently thrown

Focuses on the consistency of the action rather than the ongoing nature.

has repeatedly thrown

Highlights the repetition of the throwing action.

has been tossing

Uses a synonym of "throwing" implying a lighter or less forceful action.

has been hurling

Emphasizes the force or intensity of the throwing action.

has been flinging

Suggests a careless or rapid throwing motion.

has been launching

Implies throwing something with force or purpose, like a campaign or initiative.

has been pitching

Specifically refers to the action of throwing in a baseball context.

has been casting

Implies a wider spreading or distribution of something.

has been distributing

Replaces "throwing" with a verb that implies a more organized or controlled action.

has been projecting

Replaces the literal act of throwing with the figurative one of casting light or images.

FAQs

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

Use "has been throwing" to describe an action of throwing that started in the past and is still ongoing or has recently finished. For instance, "The pitcher "has been throwing" strikes all night" indicates a continuous action.

What's a more formal alternative to "has been throwing"?

While "has been throwing" is suitable for most contexts, you might consider "has consistently thrown" or "has repeatedly thrown" for a slightly more formal tone. The best choice depends on the specific context.

Which is correct, "has been throwing" or "has thrown"?

"Has been throwing" indicates a continuous action, while "has thrown" indicates a completed action. For example, "He "has been throwing" the ball for an hour" versus "He "has thrown" the ball ten times".

Can "has been throwing" be used figuratively?

Yes, "has been throwing" can be used figuratively, such as "The company "has been throwing" money at the problem", meaning they are investing heavily but perhaps not effectively.