have been full

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been full" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state of being filled or occupied over a period of time, often in relation to experiences or emotions. Example: "The past few months have been full of challenges, but I have learned a lot from them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

The shops have been full.

The Guardian - Business

Our days have been full.

The New York Times - Magazine

The headlines have been full of horror stories about Honduras.

The New York Times

For one thing, they have been full of misrepresentations.

The New York Times

The news media have been full of the new man.

The New York Times

The 11 months since have been full of hard work.

The Guardian - Sport

Detective novels recently have been full of unreliable narrators.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Since 30 June, the media have been full-throatedly hymning the military.

The Guardian - Books

Most of the posts recently created have been full-time, and the average working week is lengthening.

The Economist

The growth of their branches aborted, while the trunks have been full-grown (Figure1d).

Nanoscale Research Letters

The grim employment picture is causing more people who have been full-time caregivers to look for work too.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing emotional states, consider alternatives like "have been filled" to convey a slightly different nuance. For example, "Her days have been full of joy", could also be written as "Her days have been filled with joy".

Common error

While grammatically correct, overuse of "have been full" with abstract nouns can sound cliché. Consider more vivid verbs or adjectives. Instead of saying "The meeting have been full of conflict", try "The meeting was fraught with conflict".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been full" functions as a present perfect construction, indicating a state or condition that started in the past and continues to be relevant in the present. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable form.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Reference

2%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been full" is a grammatically sound and versatile present perfect construction used to describe a state of being filled or occupied over time. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread usage. It's commonly found in news, media, and business contexts, as shown by Ludwig examples. While generally neutral in tone, writers should be mindful of potential overuse, especially with abstract nouns. Consider using related phrases like ""have been packed"" or ""have been brimming"" for varied expression. With a high expert rating and frequent occurrence, "have been full" remains a valuable tool in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been packed

Replaces "full" with "packed", emphasizing a tight or dense filling.

have been brimming

Uses "brimming" instead of "full", suggesting overflowing or abundance.

have been loaded

Substitutes "full" with "loaded", implying a heavy or substantial filling.

have been complete

Replaces "full" with "complete", focusing on the idea of being whole or finished.

have been abundant

Uses "abundant" instead of "full", highlighting a large quantity or plentiful supply.

have been saturated

Substitutes "full" with "saturated", suggesting a thorough or complete permeation.

have been teeming

Replaces "full" with "teeming", emphasizing a large number of things present.

have been overflowing

Uses "overflowing" instead of "full", emphasizing a quantity beyond capacity.

have been swarming

Substitutes "full" with "swarming", suggesting a large, active group.

have been plentiful

Replaces "full" with "plentiful", emphasizing a generous or sufficient quantity.

FAQs

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

Use "have been full" to describe a period that is filled with something, such as experiences, activities, or emotions. For example, "The past year "has been full" of challenges and opportunities".

What are some alternatives to "have been full"?

Alternatives include "have been packed", "have been brimming", or "have been loaded", depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

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

Yes, "has been full" is correct when referring to a singular subject, while "have been full" is used for plural subjects or when using "I", "you", "we", or "they". For example, "The glass has been full" versus "The glasses have been full".

What's the difference between "have been full" and "have been filled"?

"Have been full" generally describes a state of being completely occupied, while "have been filled" emphasizes the action of something being put into a space. While they can often be used interchangeably, "have been filled" might suggest a more active process of filling. For example: "The stadium "has been full" all day", versus "The stadium has been filled with excitement."