have been opened

USAGE SUMMARY

'have been opened' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use the phrase to indicate that something has been made accessible or available. For example, "The doors to the restaurant have been opened for the evening."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The floodgates have been opened.

The New York Times

That prison should never have been opened.

The New York Times

More frontiers have been opened than occupied".

The New Yorker

People's eyes have been opened.

The Guardian

Shelters have been opened across Louisiana.

The Washington Post

Now our eyes have been opened".

The New York Times

"My eyes," Brian said, "have been opened".

The New York Times - Magazine

Therefore, disciplinary proceedings should have been opened".

The Guardian - Sport

Mail Call The presents have been opened.

The New York Times

By now, most of the boxes have been opened.

The New York Times - Magazine

The shutters of the cabinet have been opened wide.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have been opened", ensure the subject clearly indicates what is being made accessible or available. For example, "The investigation files have been opened to the public."

Common error

Avoid using "have been opened" when an active voice construction would be more direct and clear. For example, instead of "The store has been opened by the owner", consider "The owner opened the store".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been opened" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject has undergone the action of being opened. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is grammatically correct and widely accepted in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Academia

18%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Science

12%

Encyclopedias

7%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have been opened" is a versatile and grammatically sound construction in English, widely used to indicate that something has been made accessible, initiated, or revealed. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and appropriate for use in various contexts. With its prevalence across news, academic, and business sources, "have been opened" demonstrates its broad applicability and reliability. Remember to consider the passive voice and clarity when incorporating it into your writing. Alternatives such as "have commenced", "have been initiated", and "have been started" can provide nuanced variations to suit specific communicative needs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been started

This alternative is a simpler and more direct way of saying something has begun.

have been initiated

Using "initiated" instead of "opened" suggests a formal beginning or launch of a process or event.

have commenced

This alternative replaces "opened" with "commenced", emphasizing the beginning or start of something.

have been launched

This implies a more formal or publicized start, often used for projects or campaigns.

have been established

This suggests that something has been set up or created for the long term.

have been activated

This phrase suggests that something has been made functional or operational.

have been instituted

This alternative indicates that something has been formally introduced or established.

have been unlocked

This alternative implies that something was previously inaccessible and is now available.

have been inaugurated

This suggests a formal or ceremonial opening, often for buildings or institutions.

have been unsealed

This alternative is more specific and implies something that was closed is now open.

FAQs

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

The phrase "have been opened" indicates that something has been made accessible or available. For instance, "The doors "have been opened" for the evening's performance" or "Criminal investigations "have been opened" in both crane accidents".

What are some alternatives to "have been opened"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "have commenced", "have been initiated", or "have been started" as alternatives to "have been opened".

When is it better to use "have been opened" instead of "were opened"?

Use "have been opened" when you want to emphasize the present state resulting from a past action. "Were opened" focuses more on the past action itself without necessarily highlighting the current state. For example, "The floodgates "have been opened"" implies the gates are currently open, while "The floodgates were opened yesterday" simply states when the action occurred.

Is "have been opened" formal or informal?

The phrase "have been opened" is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The level of formality often depends on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the writing.