hasn't been

USAGE SUMMARY

"hasn't been" is a correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is the present perfect tense of "to be" and is used to describe something that began in the past and is still continuing in the present. Example: "She hasn't been feeling well lately, so she decided to see a doctor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Today hasn't been competitive.

The New York Times

It's who hasn't been.

Independent

That hasn't been broached.

The New York Times

Progress hasn't been easy.

The Guardian

"It hasn't been close.

The New York Times - Sports

But it hasn't been.

The New York Times

It hasn't been necessary.

The New Yorker

Who hasn't been there?

The New York Times

He hasn't been disappointed.

The New York Times

Staff hasn't been reduced".

The New York Times

"She hasn't been exposed".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hasn't been" to describe states or actions that started in the past and continue to the present or have relevance to the present moment.

Common error

Avoid using "hasn't been" when referring to single, completed actions in the past. Instead, use the simple past tense (e.g., "It wasn't").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "hasn't been" functions as an auxiliary verb phrase in the present perfect tense. It combines the auxiliary verb 'has' (contracted to 'hasn't' to indicate negation) with the past participle 'been' of the verb 'to be'. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating its usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hasn't been" is a versatile and commonly used phrase in English, serving as the negative form of the present perfect tense of "to be". Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread applicability. Predominantly found in News & Media sources, its usage extends across various contexts, indicating actions or states that began in the past and continue to the present or have present relevance. When writing, ensure correct tense usage to avoid errors, and consider related phrases to diversify expression. As highlighted by Ludwig, understanding its function and purpose enhances clarity and precision in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has not been

This is the full, uncontracted form of "hasn't been".

has yet to be

Highlights that something is expected but hasn't occurred up to now.

it was not

Switches to the simple past tense to indicate something that did not happen.

has failed to be

Indicates a lack of success or achievement.

it never was

Expresses that something did not exist or occur at any time.

did not happen

Simple past tense to say that an event did not occur.

hasn't materialized

Indicates that something expected or planned has not come into being.

remains undone

Focuses on the lack of completion or action.

is still pending

Indicates that something is waiting to be resolved or completed.

has evaded

Implies that something has been avoided or escaped.

FAQs

How can I use "hasn't been" in a sentence?

"Hasn't been" is used to indicate that something started in the past and continues to the present or has relevance to the present. For example, "She "hasn't been" feeling well lately" or "The issue "hasn't been" resolved yet".

What's the difference between "hasn't been" and "wasn't"?

"Hasn't been" indicates a state or action that started in the past and either continues to the present or has relevance to the present. "Wasn't" refers to a single, completed action or state in the past. For example, "He "hasn't been" to the gym in a while" versus "He "wasn't" at the party yesterday".

What can I say instead of "hasn't been" to express something similar?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "has not been", "has yet to be", or "remains undone".

Is "hasn't been" formal or informal?

"Hasn't been" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The uncontracted form, "has not been", is slightly more formal.