have been consumed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been consumed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been eaten or used up over a period of time, often in a passive construction. Example: "All the snacks have been consumed by the guests at the party."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Numerous dogs have been consumed.

The New York Times

Even his sleeping hours have been consumed by work.

The New York Times - Tech

Lately, her days have been consumed by her legal case.

The New York Times - Sports

My image and work have been consumed, contemplated and commented on by millions across the globe.

The Guardian - Opinion

And the rainy day funds accumulated in the 1990's have been consumed.

The New York Times

Members of his chat group have been consumed by the finding ever since.

The New York Times

Since Lauren Bacall died on Tuesday, images of her heyday have been consumed all over again.

The Guardian - Opinion

For most families, December will have been consumed with planning for Christmas and New Year.

The Guardian - Opinion

Since the dawn of time, men have been consumed by the desire to demonstrate their virility.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Once food and warm beverages have been consumed, we take a leisurely walk through the markets.

The Guardian - Travel

By that reckoning, we'll all have been consumed in some cauldron.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have been consumed", ensure the subject clearly indicates what is being used up or depleted. For example: "The resources have been consumed rapidly."

Common error

Avoid using "have been consumed" when an active voice construction would be more direct and clear. Instead of "The fuel have been consumed by the engine", write "The engine has consumed the fuel".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been consumed" functions as a present perfect passive construction, indicating that something has been acted upon and is now in a state of depletion or completion. Ludwig confirms its validity through numerous examples in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

34%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been consumed" is a present perfect passive construction used to describe the state of something after it has been used up, eaten, or fully absorbed. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and very common, appearing frequently in news, scientific, and other formal contexts. The register is generally neutral to formal, making it suitable for a wide range of writing scenarios. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what exactly has been used up or depleted. Avoid overuse in situations where an active voice construction would be clearer and more direct.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been used up

Focuses on the depletion of a resource through usage.

have been depleted

Emphasizes the reduction of something to a low level.

have been exhausted

Highlights the complete consumption or use of something, often implying fatigue or weariness.

have been absorbed

Suggests that something has been taken in or assimilated completely.

have been devoured

Implies rapid and enthusiastic consumption, often in a figurative sense.

have been engrossed

Focuses on mental absorption or complete involvement in something.

have been preoccupied

Highlights being deeply focused on something, to the exclusion of other things.

have been completed

Indicates the finishing or concluding of a task or process, where resources or efforts have reached their end.

have been resolved

Suggests a problem or issue has been settled, often implying the use of resources to reach a conclusion.

have been finalized

Emphasizes that something is in its ultimate or concluded form.

FAQs

How can I use "have been consumed" in a sentence?

Use "have been consumed" to describe something that has been used up, eaten, or completely taken in. For example, "All the cookies "have been consumed" by the children."

What are some alternatives to "have been consumed"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "have been used up", "have been depleted", or "have been eaten".

Is it correct to say "has been consumed" instead of "have been consumed"?

The choice between "has" and "have" depends on the subject. Use "has been consumed" for singular subjects (e.g., "The cake has been consumed") and "have been consumed" for plural subjects (e.g., "The cookies have been consumed").

What is the difference between "have been consumed" and "were consumed"?

"Have been consumed" indicates a present perfect passive construction, suggesting an action completed at some point before now. "Were consumed" is past passive, indicating a completed action in the past. For example, "The data "have been consumed" during the analysis (present relevance)" versus "The snacks "were consumed" last night (past event)".