have been packed

USAGE SUMMARY

"have been packed" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it in the past perfect tense to talk about something that had already been completed before another action in the past. For example: "The boxes had been packed before they were shipped out."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Three I have attended have been packed.

The Economist

But Performa 07's events have been packed.

The New York Times - Arts

"Last year, it would have been packed," he said.

The New York Times

"It would have been packed," I said to my companion.

The Guardian - Opinion

On a Saturday night, it would have been packed.

The New Yorker

Then again, congressional town-hall meetings have been packed.

The New Yorker

Thousands of tons of equipment have been packed up and shipped out.

The New York Times

Those lovely tourism posters on London buses have been packed away.

The New York Times

Planes have been packed lately, too, which gives the industry more power to raise prices.

The New York Times

A fabulous production, it should have been packed to the gunwales.

The Guardian

In France, popular shopping areas have been packed throughout the Christmas season.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been packed" to describe a state of being full or crowded, ensuring the context clearly indicates what is being filled.

Common error

Avoid relying solely on passive constructions like "have been packed" as it can weaken your writing. Consider active voice alternatives for a more direct and engaging style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been packed" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect passive voice. It describes a state resulting from a past action, indicating that something was filled or loaded to capacity at some point and remains in that condition or has the characteristics of being so.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have been packed" is a versatile and common expression used to describe the state of being full or crowded due to a past action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used. The phrase appears frequently in news, formal business contexts, and scientific literature, indicating its adaptability across various registers. When writing, using the passive voice of "have been packed" can be efficient, but remember to balance it with active voice constructions for impactful content.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been filled

Focuses on the action of filling something, often implying a complete state.

have been crammed

Emphasizes the act of forcefully squeezing items into a space.

have been loaded

Highlights the action of placing a heavy quantity of items into a container.

have been stacked

Implies arranging items in a pile, one on top of another.

have been stockpiled

Suggests accumulating a large quantity of items for future use.

have been congested

Highlights the state of being excessively crowded, usually referring to traffic or spaces.

have been teeming

Describes a place as being full of living things or activity.

have been overflowing

Indicates a state of exceeding capacity, spilling over the edges.

have been bursting

Conveys a sense of being full to the point of almost breaking open.

have been stuffed

Emphasizes the act of filling something tightly with a soft material or contents.

FAQs

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

You can use "have been packed" to describe something that is full or crowded, such as "The stadium "have been packed" with fans" or "The suitcases "have been packed" with clothes".

What are some alternatives to "have been packed"?

Alternatives include "have been filled", "have been crammed", or "have been loaded", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

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

Yes, "has been packed" is correct when referring to a singular subject, while "have been packed" is used for plural subjects. For example, "The box has been packed" versus "The boxes "have been packed"".

What's the difference between "have been packed" and "were packed"?

"Have been packed" is present perfect tense, indicating a state that exists now as a result of past action. "Were packed" is past simple passive, describing an action completed in the past without direct connection to the present.