have been building

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "have been building" is correct and can be used in written English.
You could use it when you want to show that you have been working on something or doing something for a certain amount of time. For example, "We have been building a strong team of professionals for the last two years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Harrisburg's problems have been building for years.

The New York Times

Something must have been building, Anderson said.

The Washington Post

I have been building up to it.

The Guardian - Sport

And we have been building it.

The New York Times

These dynamics have been building for years.

The New York Times

They have been building for this competition.

The Guardian - Sport

Ethnic tensions have been building in Kosovo.

The New York Times

"This must have been building up in him over time.

The New York Times

Other broad economic problems have been building for years.

The New York Times

We have been building up to them for years.

The New York Times

But the Palestinians have been building support internationally.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been building" to describe a process that has been ongoing for a period of time and is still in progress. This emphasizes the continuous nature of the activity.

Common error

Avoid using "have been building" when referring to a completed action. Instead, use "built" or "have built" to indicate that the construction or development is finished.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been building" functions as a present perfect progressive verb phrase. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in describing continuous actions that started in the past and are still ongoing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Sport

13%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Unknown

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have been building" is a present perfect progressive verb phrase used to describe continuous actions that started in the past and are still ongoing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and suitable for use in a variety of writing contexts. It appears most frequently in News & Media, Sport, and Academic sources. When using this phrase, ensure that the action is indeed ongoing; otherwise, "built" or "have built" may be more appropriate. Related phrases include "have been constructing", "have been developing", and "have been creating", each carrying subtle nuances in meaning. This versatility and correctness make "have been building" a valuable addition to any writer's toolkit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been constructing

Focuses more on the physical act of building or assembling something.

have been developing

Emphasizes the process of growth and refinement over time.

have been creating

Highlights the act of bringing something new into existence.

have been establishing

Implies setting up or founding something with the aim of permanence.

have been forming

Suggests the gradual shaping or molding of something into its final form.

have been assembling

Specifically refers to gathering and putting together individual components.

have been fabricating

Often used in a technical context, referring to the manufacturing of something.

have been putting together

A more informal way of saying assembling or constructing.

have been erecting

Suggests building something tall or imposing.

have been raising

Can imply building something up, like capital or a structure.

FAQs

How do I use "have been building" in a sentence?

Use "have been building" to describe an ongoing process. For instance, "They "have been building" a new school for the past year" indicates that the school is still under construction.

What are some alternatives to "have been building"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "have been constructing", "have been developing", or "have been creating".

What's the difference between "have been building" and "have built"?

"Have been building" implies a continuous, ongoing action, while "have built" suggests a completed action. For example, "We "have been building" a house" means the house is still under construction, whereas "We "have built" a house" means the house is finished.

Is "have been building" formal or informal?

"Have been building" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the writing.