have been going on

USAGE SUMMARY

"have been going on" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is continuing over a period of time. For example: "We've been having a great conversation for hours - it's really been going on."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

These fights have been going on forever.

The New York Times

IT SEEMS to have been going on forever.

The Economist

These preparations Coordinated Technical Activities (CTA)—have been going on since July 2001.

Fusion Engineering and Design

"I'm stunned at some of the business practices that have been going on," she said.

The New York Times

Discussions over the pensions issue have been going on for eight months.

Independent

The meetings have been going on for almost a week now.

Forbes

Back-channel contacts have been going on.

The Guardian

"Discussions have been going on some time.

The Guardian

Talks about surrender have been going on all week.

The Economist

These conflicts have been going on for several years.

The New York Times

Cautious and piecemeal, they have been going on for years.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been going on" to describe events, discussions, or processes that have been in progress for a notable duration. This emphasizes the continuity and ongoing nature of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "have been going on" when referring to events that have already concluded. This phrase is best suited for describing ongoing situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been going on" functions as a present perfect progressive tense, indicating an action or situation that began in the past and is still continuing up to the present. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been going on" is a grammatically sound and versatile way to describe ongoing events and situations. Ludwig AI confirms it is a correct usage and a common phrase. Its frequent presence in news, media, and scientific contexts underscores its broad applicability. When writing, ensure that you are describing events that are still in progress, as this is key to its correct usage. Consider alternatives like "have continued" or "have been happening" for variations, but keep in mind the nuances each brings. With a strong expert rating of 4.5, confidently incorporate "have been going on" into your writing to effectively convey the continuity of events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been happening

A simpler, more general way to indicate that events are taking place continuously.

have continued

This alternative uses a more direct verb to express continuation, lacking the nuance of an ongoing process.

have been underway

This phrase emphasizes that something is in progress, often implying a planned or organized activity.

have persisted

Implies a more resistant or challenging continuation than the original phrase.

have been in progress

Similar to "have been underway", but slightly more formal and less dynamic.

have transpired

This suggests the events have unfolded or occurred, focusing less on the duration.

have unfolded

Focuses on the revealing or developing nature of the events over time.

have existed

This suggests a state of being or presence over a period of time, rather than an active process.

have remained

This implies that something has stayed in a particular state or condition throughout the period.

have taken place

Indicates that events have occurred, but doesn't necessarily emphasize their continuous nature.

FAQs

How can I use "have been going on" in a sentence?

Use "have been going on" to describe events, discussions, or processes that are currently in progress and have been for some time. For example, "Negotiations "have been going on" for months."

What are some alternatives to "have been going on"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "have continued", "have persisted", or "have been happening".

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

"Has been going on" is used with singular subjects, while ""have been going on"" is used with plural subjects or with the pronoun "I", "you", "we", or "they". For example, "The meeting has been going on for hours" (singular) versus "The meetings "have been going on" for hours" (plural).

What's the difference between "have been going on" and "have gone on"?

"Have been going on" indicates a continuous action or state that is still in progress, while "have gone on" implies that the actions or events have happened, possibly to completion. For instance, "The discussions "have been going on" for weeks" (still happening) versus "Several events have gone on since then" (completed events).