have been keeping

USAGE SUMMARY

"have been keeping" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is the present perfect progressive tense form of the verb "keep," which indicates an ongoing action or state that started in the past and is still continuing in the present. You can use "have been keeping" in various situations, such as: 1. To describe an ongoing action or habit: "I have been keeping a daily journal for the past five years." "I have been keeping myself busy with work and hobbies during the quarantine." 2. To explain a current situation that has been happening for a while: "She looks tired because she has been keeping late nights for the past week." "We have been keeping a close eye on the stock market since the pandemic started." 3. To talk about a continuous action that has recently stopped or changed: "I have been keeping my distance from my friends due to social distancing guidelines, but now we can hang out again." "John has been keeping his hair long for years, but he recently got a haircut." In summary, "have been keeping" is a useful phrase for describing ongoing actions or states in the present perfect tense.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This suggests you have been keeping count.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"I was thinking he might have been keeping a pig".

The New Yorker

Until now Scottish university bosses have been keeping their counsel.

Independent

We have been keeping up to date with news.

Independent

"But I have been keeping the gate shut," I asserted.

The Guardian

That's why some charities have been keeping their heads down...."....

The Guardian - Opinion

That's why some charities have been keeping their heads down.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The majority of our clients have been keeping it steady.

The New York Times

The nationals have been keeping their shift rates low too.

The Guardian

The mortgage finance giants have been keeping close tabs.

The Washington Post

So it's been a little while, but they have been keeping me busy!

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have been keeping", ensure the context clearly indicates an action or state that began in the past and is either ongoing or has recently concluded. For instance, "They "have been keeping" a close watch on the market trends" clearly shows a continuous monitoring activity.

Common error

A common mistake is using "have been keeping" when a simple past tense or present perfect tense is more appropriate. For example, avoid saying "I "have been keeping" the book yesterday"; instead, use "I kept the book yesterday" or "I have kept the book".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been keeping" functions as a present perfect progressive verb phrase. It indicates an action that started in the past and is either still ongoing or has recently finished. Examples in Ludwig showcase its use in various contexts, affirming its role in expressing continuous or habitual actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Academia

12%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have been keeping" is a versatile present perfect progressive verb phrase used to denote actions that began in the past and continue into the present or have recently ceased. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts. Its function is to emphasize the duration and continuity of an action, making it suitable for news, academic writing, and general communication. While alternatives like "have been maintaining" and "have been monitoring" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. Remember to ensure correct tense usage and avoid using it when a simple past or present perfect tense would be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been maintaining

This alternative focuses on the act of upholding or preserving something consistently.

have been monitoring

This phrase emphasizes the act of observing and tracking something closely over a period.

have been observing

This alternative highlights the act of watching something carefully over time.

have been continuing

This suggests an action or state has been ongoing without interruption.

have been preserving

This highlights the act of protecting or conserving something over a duration.

have been retaining

This focuses on keeping or holding onto something over time.

have been guarding

This suggests protecting something from harm or unwanted access continuously.

have been supervising

This alternative indicates overseeing or managing something consistently.

have been tracking

This emphasizes the ongoing act of following and recording something.

have been sustaining

This focuses on supporting or maintaining something over a period.

FAQs

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

Use "have been keeping" to describe an action that started in the past and continues into the present. For example, "I "have been keeping" a journal for five years."

What are some alternatives to "have been keeping"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "have been maintaining", "have been monitoring", or "have been observing".

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

The choice depends on the timeline. "Had been keeping" refers to an action that was ongoing in the past before another past action, while "have been keeping" connects a past action to the present.

What's the difference between "have been keeping" and "have kept"?

"Have been keeping" emphasizes the continuous nature of the action, whereas "have kept" simply states that the action was completed at some point. For instance, "I "have been keeping" a diary" suggests an ongoing activity, while "I "have kept" a diary" only indicates that I maintained one at some point.