have been got

USAGE SUMMARY

"have been got" is a valid construction in English.
It is used to refer to something that has been obtained or acquired in the past. For example: "The supplies we needed have been got."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

They looked thoroughly mass-produced and industrial, and I could not think where they might have been got".

The Guardian - Books

Some babies have been disappearing up on 144th Street, and I speculate later on what happened to them and how they might have been got back.

The New Yorker

They are beaten up and raped daily and it's not because they feel bad about themselves or have been got at by some zealous politically correct propaganda.

The Guardian

Andrew Lansley said he was slimming down management, but we will end up with more layers than have been got rid of.

The Guardian

They might have been got by a cat".

BBC

A series of important research results have been got via various methods.

Advances in Difference Equations

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Lately, their smiles have been getting thinner.

The Economist

We have been getting consistently good results.

The Guardian - Sport

Things have been getting worse for months.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"People have been getting scammed forever.

The New York Times - Tech

"Guys have been getting sacked recently.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been got" when referring to something obtained or acquired, particularly in contexts where a more formal word like "obtained" or "acquired" might sound too stilted. Ensure the tone matches the context; it is generally more suitable for informal or conversational writing.

Common error

Avoid using "have been got" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise and formal alternatives like "obtained", "acquired", or "procured" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been got" functions as a passive construction indicating that something has been obtained or acquired by an unspecified agent. Ludwig confirms that the construction is grammatically valid, although somewhat informal. The examples provided demonstrate its use in various contexts, including news reports and scientific papers.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

60%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have been got" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that something has been obtained. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, showing its presence in various sources, particularly in news and science contexts. Although correct, it's generally more appropriate for informal or neutral writing and should be used judiciously in formal academic or professional settings, where more formal alternatives like "obtained" or "acquired" might be preferred. When aiming for clarity and precision in formal writing, remember that alternatives are your friends!

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been obtained

Replaces "got" with a more formal synonym, "obtained", suggesting a more deliberate or official acquisition.

have been acquired

Similar to "obtained", "acquired" implies ownership or control has been gained.

have been procured

"Procured" suggests that something has been acquired through special effort or means.

have been secured

"Secured" implies that something was obtained after overcoming some obstacle or challenge.

have been received

"Received" indicates that something was given or handed over.

have been attained

"Attained" suggests that something was achieved or reached after a period of effort.

have been gained

"Gained" implies an increase or addition, often through effort or competition.

have been derived

"Derived" suggests that something was obtained from a source or origin.

have been collected

"Collected" indicates the gathering of multiple items into a group.

have been picked up

A more informal alternative, suggesting that something was easily acquired or noticed.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use "have been got" in writing?

The phrase "have been got" is appropriate in informal contexts where a less formal tone is desired. It's suitable when you want to express that something has been obtained, but a more formal word would sound unnatural.

What are some alternatives to "have been got" for formal writing?

For formal writing, consider using alternatives such as "have been obtained", "have been acquired", or "have been procured" to maintain a professional tone.

Is "have been got" grammatically correct?

Yes, "have been got" is grammatically correct, although it is less formal. It's a valid passive construction using the auxiliary verb "have" and the past participle "got".

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

"Have been got" implies that something has already been obtained or acquired. "Have been getting" indicates a continuous process of obtaining or receiving something over time.