have been played

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been played" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the present perfect passive voice to indicate that something has occurred in the past and is relevant to the present, often referring to games, music, or performances. Example: "Many different styles of music have been played at the festival over the years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Should it have been played?

The New York Times

Recorded crow-distress calls have been played.

The New York Times

Lots of exhibition matches have been played.

The Economist

We have been played".

The New York Times

So cards have been played.

The New York Times

All of those overtimes have been played at home.

The New York Times

The first 11 moves have been played often.

The New York Times

"We have been played before," a senior NATO official said.

The New York Times

The game was to have been played Thursday night.

The New Yorker

Should the match have been played at all?

The New York Times

Chess games have been played in space and underwater.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been played" to describe events, games, or roles that occurred in the past and have a continued relevance or impact on the present situation. Ensure the context clearly indicates what 'has been played', specifying the game, role, or event.

Common error

Avoid using "have been played" when referring to future events. This phrase describes actions completed in the past. Use future tenses like 'will be played' or 'are going to be played' for future events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been played" primarily functions as a present perfect passive construction. It describes an action that was completed at some point in the past, with a focus on the result of that action. Ludwig AI examples show it used in contexts related to games, strategies, music and roles.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have been played" is a versatile phrase used in the present perfect passive voice to describe actions completed in the past with relevance to the present. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and commonly used across diverse contexts, particularly in news, media, science and wiki. When using the phrase, ensure to avoid tense errors and clearly specify what action "has been played". Alternatives such as "have taken place" or "have been enacted" can be used for slight differences in emphasis. Remember that "have been played" signifies a completed action that has had an impact and aligns with proper context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have taken place

A more formal and neutral way of saying that something has happened or occurred.

have been carried out

Emphasizes the process of performing a task or operation from start to finish.

have transpired

Focuses on the occurrence or taking place of events, often with an implication of being revealed or becoming known.

have unfolded

Suggests a gradual revelation of events or a progressive development, often in a narrative context.

have been conducted

Implies a formal or organized execution of a task, experiment, or survey.

have come to pass

Implies a sense of inevitability or fulfillment of a prediction or expectation.

have been enacted

Specifically refers to the execution or performance of a law, role, or ritual.

have been staged

Suggests a deliberate arrangement or presentation of an event or performance.

have been executed

Focuses on the completion or carrying out of a plan, order, or task.

have materialized

Suggests that something abstract or planned has become real or concrete.

FAQs

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

You can use "have been played" to indicate that something such as a game, song, or trick has happened or occurred in the past. For example, "The games "have been played" for years" or "We "have been played" before".

What are some alternatives to "have been played"?

Some alternatives include "have transpired", "have taken place", or "have been enacted", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

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

Both are grammatically correct, but they have different meanings. "Have been played" (present perfect) indicates an action completed at an unspecified time in the past, relevant to the present. "Had been played" (past perfect) refers to an action completed before another point in the past.

What is the difference between "have been playing" and "have been played"?

"Have been playing" (present perfect continuous) indicates a continuous action that started in the past and is still ongoing or has just finished. "Have been played" (present perfect passive) indicates a completed action where something was acted upon.