have been getting

USAGE SUMMARY

"have been getting" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it in the present perfect continuous tense, which is used to describe an action that started in the past and is continuing to happen up until the present moment. Example sentence: I have been getting better at cooking since I started taking classes last year.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Lifestyle

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Things have been getting worse for months.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Lately, their smiles have been getting thinner.

The Economist

We have been getting consistently good results.

The Guardian - Sport

"Guys have been getting sacked recently.

The Guardian

"People have been getting scammed forever.

The New York Times - Tech

I have been getting complaints all morning".

The New Yorker

The drugs have been getting stronger, too.

The New York Times

The first may have been getting out of U.C.L.A. alive".

The New York Times - Sports

In some respects, matters have been getting worse.

The Economist

Speculative investors have been getting out of their positions.

The Economist

The Yankees will take what they have been getting.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been getting" to describe actions that started in the past and continue into the present. This emphasizes the ongoing nature of the action, such as "I have been getting better at playing the piano."

Common error

Avoid using "have been getting" when describing actions completed entirely in the past. Instead, use the past simple or past perfect tenses. For example, use "I got a new car last week" instead of "I have been getting a new car last week" if the purchase is finished.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been getting" functions as a present perfect continuous verb phrase. It describes actions or states that started in the past and are ongoing or have recently ceased. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage aligns with standard English grammar.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sport

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

8%

Academia

7%

Encyclopedias

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have been getting" is a versatile present perfect continuous verb phrase used to describe ongoing actions or states that began in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it adheres to standard English grammar and enjoys widespread use. Its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse contexts, from news and media to business and personal communication. The examples from Ludwig highlight its effectiveness in expressing trends, changes, and continuous processes. Remember to use "have been getting" for ongoing actions, and to avoid it when describing fully completed past actions. Consider alternatives like "have been receiving" or "have been experiencing" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have started to get

Highlights the beginning of a process that continues to unfold.

have been receiving

Emphasizes the act of being given or presented with something continually.

have been obtaining

Focuses on the act of acquiring or receiving something over a period of time.

have been experiencing

Highlights the act of undergoing or feeling something continuously.

have been progressing

Implies a forward movement or improvement over a period.

have been developing

Stresses the process of growth or evolution over time.

have been becoming

Indicates a gradual transformation into something else.

have been evolving

Highlights a gradual and complex development.

have been trending

Suggests a popular or fashionable direction over time.

are increasingly

Shorter form indicating a growing trend or state.

FAQs

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

Use "have been getting" to describe an action that began in the past and continues into the present, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the activity. For example, "We "have been getting" a lot of rain lately."

What's the difference between "have been getting" and "got"?

"Have been getting" indicates an ongoing process, while "got" refers to a completed action in the past. For example, "I "have been getting" used to the new software" (process), versus "I "got" a new job" (completed action).

What are some alternatives to "have been getting"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "have been receiving", "have been experiencing", or "have been becoming" to convey similar meanings.

Is it correct to say "had been getting" instead of "have been getting"?

"Had been getting" is used to describe an action that was ongoing in the past before another past action occurred, while "have been getting" describes an action that started in the past and continues to the present. For instance, "I "had been getting" ready when the phone rang" versus "I "have been getting" better at cooking."