has been watching

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been watching" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe an ongoing action that started in the past and continues into the present. Example: "She has been watching the series for weeks and is finally caught up with the latest episodes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Someone has been watching Dr. Drew.

The New York Times

Since then, everybody has been watching carefully.

The New York Times - Style

Lately, he has been watching "Cars".

The New York Times - Magazine

Vicente del Bosque has been watching him.

The Guardian - Sport

I hope the great, old game has been watching.

Independent

The domestic intelligence agency has been watching Mr Abu Nagie.

The Economist

Also motherhood and apple pie.India, too, has been watching carefully.

The Economist

The family has been watching his concerts online.

The Washington Post

Main Street has been watching prices rise for a while.

The Washington Post

In the meantime, Mr. Cogsville has been watching investors.

The New York Times

Herr has been watching "Dancing With the Stars" with interest.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider context when choosing alternatives; "has been monitoring" suits technical situations, while "has been keeping an eye on" fits more casual contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "has been watching" when referring to a completed action in the past. Use the past perfect continuous tense (had been watching) instead if you need to emphasize duration leading up to a point in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been watching" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense. This tense indicates an action that started in the past and is still ongoing or has recently finished. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "has been watching" is a versatile verb phrase in the present perfect continuous tense, indicating an ongoing action that began in the past and continues to the present. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use, particularly in news and media. It's crucial to use the correct tense to accurately convey the intended meaning, avoiding the past simple tense when the action is ongoing. Consider the context when choosing alternatives like "has been observing" or "has been monitoring" for nuanced expression. Using "has been watching" effectively ensures clear and precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been observing

Focuses more on a formal, detached observation.

has been monitoring

Implies a systematic and often technical observation.

has been keeping an eye on

Suggests a more casual and protective form of observation.

has been following

Implies tracking something's progress or development.

has been tracking

Emphasizes the process of recording or tracing something's movement or changes.

has been scrutinizing

Indicates a detailed and critical examination.

has been surveying

Involves looking at something in a comprehensive and general way.

has been eyeing

Suggests a more speculative or covetous kind of watching.

has been inspecting

Implies a formal or official examination.

has been witnessing

Focuses on observing an event as it unfolds.

FAQs

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

Use "has been watching" to describe an ongoing action that started in the past and continues to the present. For example, "She "has been watching" the news every day to stay informed".

What are some alternatives to "has been watching"?

You can use alternatives like "has been observing", "has been monitoring", or "has been keeping an eye on" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "has been watching" or "was watching"?

"Has been watching" indicates an action that started in the past and continues to the present, while "was watching" describes a completed action in the past. Choose based on whether the action is ongoing or finished.

What's the difference between "has been watching" and "had been watching"?

"Has been watching" connects the past action to the present, while "had been watching" describes an action completed before another point in the past. For example, "She "has been watching" the show" (still watching), vs. "She "had been watching" before I arrived" (no longer watching).