has been took

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been took" is not correct in written English.
The correct form would be "has been taken." Example: "The package has been taken to the post office."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

In the latest research which was done in Germany, after collecting necessary statistical data, speed traffic volume diagram has been drawn by simulation software in different topography conditions, from direct and unisonous roads in smooth regions, to tortuous roads in mountainous regions, and finally the relevant amounts of capacity has been took.

European Transport Research Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

What action has been taken?

The Economist

His passport has been taken.

The Economist

Its place has been taken by Brussels Airlines.

Encyclopedia Britannica

No action has been taken against them.

The Economist

He has been taken in for questioning.

The New York Times

Perhaps the first step has been taken.

The New York Times

No one has been taken into custody.

The New York Times

No action has been taken, he said.

The New York Times

None of these has been taken up.

The Economist

Disney has been taking more risks lately.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct past participle form "taken" instead of "took" when using the present perfect tense. For example, say "The book has been taken from the shelf" instead of "The book has been took from the shelf".

Common error

Avoid using the simple past tense ("took") when the past participle ("taken") is required. The present perfect tense requires the auxiliary verb "has/have" followed by the past participle.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been took" incorrectly attempts to form the present perfect passive voice. The auxiliary verbs "has been" require the past participle of the main verb, which should be "taken", not "took". According to Ludwig, this usage is grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been took" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "has been taken". As Ludwig highlights, this error stems from using the simple past tense ("took") instead of the past participle ("taken"). While the intended meaning is to describe a completed action with present relevance, using the incorrect form compromises clarity and credibility, especially in formal or professional contexts. Consider alternative phrases like "has been removed" or "has been seized" to ensure grammatical accuracy and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been taken

This is the grammatically correct form of "has been took".

has been seized

This alternative implies something was forcibly taken.

has been removed

This suggests something was taken away or displaced.

has been captured

This implies something was taken, usually in a more complex situation or process.

has been confiscated

Suggests something was taken by an authority.

has been appropriated

Indicates something was taken or used for a specific purpose.

has been acquired

Suggests obtaining something, often through formal means.

has been usurped

Implies seizing power or a right illegitimately.

has been stolen

Suggests something was taken illegally.

has been extracted

This implies a process of removing or taking something out.

FAQs

What is the correct form, "has been took" or "has been taken"?

The correct form is "has been taken". "Has been took" is grammatically incorrect.

What can I use instead of "has been took"?

Use the correct form: "has been taken". Depending on the context, you could also use phrases like "has been removed" or "has been seized".

Why is "has been took" considered incorrect?

The phrase "has been took" uses the simple past tense (took) instead of the past participle (taken) after the auxiliary verbs "has been". The present perfect passive construction requires the past participle.

In what contexts might I mistakenly use "has been took"?

This error often arises from confusion between the simple past and past participle forms of irregular verbs. Double-check the correct form of the past participle when constructing sentences in the present perfect tense.