has not been seen

USAGE SUMMARY

'has not been seen' is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used in the past perfect tense to indicate that an action or event occurred in the past, and has not been seen or observed since. For example: The mysterious creature has not been seen since last year.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It has not been seen since.

The New York Times

She has not been seen since.

Independent

(Since then, Lesnar has not been seen.

The New Yorker

He has not been seen since.

The New York Times

Mr. Kapkanov has not been seen since.

The New York Times

He has not been seen since Thursday.

The New York Times

The woman has not been seen since.

The Guardian

• Shockey has not been seen recently.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Shibh has not been seen since.

The New York Times

The girl has not been seen since.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

She hasn't been seen since.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has not been seen" when referring to something or someone that was present at some point but is now absent, and the absence is notable or significant. For example, "The rare bird has not been seen in this region for decades."

Common error

Avoid using "has not been seen" when you should be using "had not been seen." "Had not been seen" is used for actions completed before another point in the past. For instance, "Before the investigation concluded, the missing evidence had not been seen."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has not been seen" functions as part of the past perfect passive voice. It typically describes the state of something or someone that was present but is now absent, and whose absence is noteworthy. Ludwig provides several examples illustrating this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has not been seen" is a versatile phrase used to indicate that something or someone was present at some point but is now absent. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, including news, science, and academia. Related phrases such as ""has disappeared"" and ""remains missing"" can offer alternative ways to express this idea, depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. When using this phrase, pay attention to tense consistency and context to ensure clarity and accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has disappeared

Focuses specifically on the act of disappearing, implying a sudden absence.

has vanished

Implies a complete and mysterious disappearance.

remains missing

Emphasizes the ongoing state of being absent or lost.

is still missing

Similar to 'remains missing', but with a slightly different emphasis on the duration.

has not surfaced

Suggests the subject was hidden or lost and hasn't reappeared.

has not reappeared

Focuses on the failure to return or become visible again.

has not been located

Highlights the unsuccessful attempts to find the subject.

is nowhere to be found

Emphasizes the impossibility of finding the subject.

there's no sign of

Indicates a complete lack of evidence or trace of the subject.

has been absent

Emphasizes the state of being away or not present.

FAQs

How can I use "has not been seen" in a sentence?

Use "has not been seen" to indicate that something or someone was present at one point but has been absent since then. For example, "The original manuscript "has not been seen" since the fire."

What are some alternatives to "has not been seen"?

Alternatives include "has disappeared", "remains missing", or "is still missing", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

What is the difference between "has not been seen" and "had not been seen"?

"Has not been seen" refers to something that has not been seen up to the present moment, whereas "had not been seen" refers to something that had not been seen up to a specific point in the past. For example, "He "has not been seen" since yesterday" vs "He "had not been seen" until the police found him".

Is it correct to say "hasn't been seen" instead of "has not been seen"?

Yes, "hasn't been seen" is a contraction of "has not been seen" and is perfectly acceptable in most contexts, especially in informal writing and speech. Both phrases carry the same meaning.