have been destroyed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been destroyed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something was destroyed at some point in the past and the effects of that destruction continue into the present. Example: "Many ancient artifacts have been destroyed over the years due to natural disasters and human actions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Houses have been destroyed".

The New York Times

Hundreds of villages have been destroyed.

The Economist

Many schools have been destroyed in Nigeria.

Independent

Catholic churches and cemeteries have been destroyed.

The Economist

"Because they could have been destroyed, too".

The New York Times

Many of the churches have been destroyed.

The New York Times

Over 700,000 homes have been destroyed.

The Economist

But here these things have been destroyed.

The New Yorker

Our lives have been destroyed," he said.

The New York Times

All books, etc. have been destroyed.

The New Yorker

The farms have been destroyed.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been destroyed" to emphasize the completed action of destruction and its ongoing consequences. For example, "The forests have been destroyed, leading to significant environmental changes."

Common error

Avoid using "have been destroying" when you intend to convey a completed action. "Have been destroying" suggests an ongoing process, whereas "have been destroyed" indicates a finished state.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been destroyed" functions as a passive perfect construction, indicating that the subject has undergone the action of being destroyed. It emphasizes the completed nature of the destruction and its resulting state. As Ludwig AI confirms, this construction is grammatically sound and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been destroyed" is a grammatically correct and widely used passive perfect construction. Ludwig AI validates that it is commonly employed to describe a past event of destruction with ongoing relevance to the present. Its frequency is very common across diverse sources, especially in News & Media. When you want to express the idea of an action that concluded in the past, with clear consequences in the present, consider using alternative phrases like ""have been ruined"", "have been obliterated", or "have been demolished" to add nuance. When using the phrase, pay attention to the subject’s plurality and maintain the verb conjugation consistent with the subject.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been ruined

Emphasizes the negative impact and loss of value or functionality.

have been obliterated

Suggests complete and utter destruction, leaving no trace.

have been demolished

Focuses on the act of tearing down or dismantling something, often buildings.

have been devastated

Highlights the emotional impact and widespread damage.

have been razed

Implies that something has been completely leveled to the ground.

have been annihilated

Conveys total destruction, often with a sense of violence or force.

have been shattered

Indicates that something has been broken into many pieces, literally or figuratively.

have been wrecked

Suggests severe damage or ruin, often due to an accident or disaster.

have been eradicated

Implies a complete removal or elimination of something.

have been consumed

Suggests destruction by fire or another consuming force.

FAQs

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

"Have been destroyed" implies the destruction happened at some point in the past and is relevant to the present, while "were destroyed" simply states a past event without necessarily linking it to the present. For example, "The buildings "were destroyed" in the war" just describes a past event, while "The buildings have been destroyed, leaving many homeless" connects the past destruction to the present consequence.

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

Use "have been destroyed" to describe something that was ruined or demolished in the past and the effects of that destruction continue to be felt. For example, "Many historical artifacts "have been ruined" due to neglect."

What can I say instead of "have been destroyed"?

You can use alternatives like ""have been ruined"", "have been obliterated", or "have been demolished" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "has been destroyed"?

Yes, but only when referring to a singular subject. For example, "The house has been destroyed", while "The houses have been destroyed".