have been gathering

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "have been gathering" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something has been collecting or assembling over the course of a period of time. Example: Over the past several days, I have been gathering supplies and resources for my upcoming trip.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

We have been gathering feedback using a Wordle.

The Guardian

Since the clashes, the bottles have been gathering dust.

The New York Times

City revolts have been gathering pace in recent days.

The Guardian - Business

Volunteers have been gathering seeds from native plants like sagebrush.

The New York Times - Science

"I have been gathering some ideas," he says.

The New York Times - Magazine

It doesn't look like this has been an area where people have been gathering firewood.

The New York Times

The 60 or so residents have been gathering in the garden to trade information.

The New York Times

Employees have been gathering customers' reactions, which the report said have been quite positive.

The Guardian

Since the strike began in Sanya taxi-drivers have been gathering outside the city-government headquarters.

The Economist

ADAM GOPNIK: I've twittered exactly once, and have been gathering twitter-listeners.

The New Yorker

Concerns over Brazil's influence in global markets have been gathering for some time.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been gathering" to describe ongoing processes of accumulating information, objects, or support over a period of time. It emphasizes the continuous nature of the action.

Common error

Avoid shifting to a simple past tense when describing an ongoing accumulation. For example, don't say "they have been gathering data, then they stopped". Instead, maintain consistency with "they have been gathering data, and continue to do so."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been gathering" functions as the present perfect continuous tense of the verb "gather". It indicates an action that began in the past, continues into the present, and may continue into the future. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically sound and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have been gathering" is a versatile and grammatically correct phrase used to describe an ongoing action of collecting or accumulating something over time. As highlighted by Ludwig, it is widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media, science, and formal business settings. Alternatives such as "have been collecting" or "have been accumulating" can be used depending on the nuance you want to convey. Remember to maintain consistent tense usage to avoid common errors. With its frequent use and clear meaning, mastering this phrase can enhance the clarity and precision of your writing. Based on Ludwig AI, the phrase usage is grammatically sound and broadly accepted.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been collecting

Implies a more deliberate and organized accumulation of items.

have been accumulating

Suggests a gradual increase in quantity over time.

have been assembling

Focuses more on the act of putting things together physically or systematically.

have been compiling

Specifically refers to gathering information or data.

have been building up

Emphasizes the gradual process of accumulation and growth.

have been amassing

Indicates a large-scale accumulation, often of wealth or power.

have been mustering

Implies gathering people or resources for a specific purpose.

have been aggregating

Focuses on combining different elements into a unified whole.

have been accruing

Suggests a gradual accumulation of something, often benefits or interest.

have been consolidating

Highlights the process of strengthening and solidifying something through accumulation.

FAQs

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

Use "have been gathering" to describe an ongoing action of collecting or accumulating something over time. For example, "Researchers "have been gathering" data for the past year."

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

You can use alternatives like "have been collecting", "have been accumulating", or "have been compiling" depending on the specific context.

Is "have been gathering" grammatically correct?

Yes, "have been gathering" is grammatically correct. It is the present perfect continuous tense of the verb "gather", indicating an action that started in the past and is still ongoing.

What's the difference between "have been gathering" and "have gathered"?

"Have been gathering" emphasizes the continuous nature of the action, while "have gathered" focuses on the completion of the action. For example, "They "have been gathering" evidence" suggests they are still in the process, whereas "They have gathered evidence" implies they have finished collecting it.