have been prolonged

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been prolonged" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been extended or lengthened over a period of time. Example: "The negotiations have been prolonged due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

The war in eastern Ukraine may well have been prolonged as a consequence.

The Guardian - Opinion

But remember that there have been prolonged periods when stocks were poor investments.

The New York Times

As a result, many parents whose lives might otherwise have been prolonged are destined to die prematurely.

The New York Times

Bruce Houlder QC, prosecuting, said the hijack appeared to have been prolonged in order to make a political point.

The Guardian

The lifetime of the pad is expected to have been prolonged, consequently lowering the cost of the CMP process.

Journal of Materials Processing Technology

As treatment has improved and lives have been prolonged, it has gone from being a lethal to a chronic illness, and costs are exploding.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

But the construction, begun a year earlier, had been prolonged by conflict; an O.S.E.

The New Yorker

It may be the legal case has been prolonged and complex.

The Guardian - Film

The Jacksons' agony had been prolonged over 12 hours of waiting.

The New York Times

A state of emergency has been prolonged for a 14th year.

The Economist

The danger to our soldiers has been prolonged by those on the frontbench who have the power to stop it".

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have been prolonged", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being extended and why. For example, "The negotiations have been prolonged due to unforeseen circumstances."

Common error

Avoid using "have been prolonged" when an active voice would be more direct and clear. For example, instead of "The meeting have been prolonged by the chairperson", consider "The chairperson prolonged the meeting".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been prolonged" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that something has experienced an extension in duration. This usage is confirmed by Ludwig AI, and it's exemplified in sentences describing extended negotiations, treatments, or periods of time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been prolonged" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase, as supported by Ludwig AI, that indicates an extension in the duration of something. It appears most often in News & Media and Scientific contexts, and carries a neutral to formal tone. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure clarity about what is being extended and why, avoiding the passive voice where an active construction would be clearer. Related phrases include "have been extended" and "have been lengthened". The phrase serves to inform and emphasize the fact that something has lasted longer than expected, and you can find it in a wide range of reliable sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been extended

Focuses on the act of lengthening the duration or scope, implying a deliberate action.

have been lengthened

Emphasizes the increase in length, often referring to physical or temporal dimensions.

have been stretched out

Suggests that something has been made to last longer, possibly beyond its natural lifespan.

have continued longer

Highlights the continuation aspect and greater duration than initially anticipated.

have been sustained

Emphasizes the maintenance of something over a period, implying effort to keep it going.

have been protracted

Indicates that something has lasted longer than necessary or expected, often negatively.

have been delayed

Shifts the focus to the postponement and subsequent extension of time.

have been spun out

Implies an artificial extension, sometimes with the intention of delaying the inevitable.

have been ongoing

Highlights the continuous and unfinished nature of something, emphasizing its duration.

have remained active

Focuses on the sustained activity or operation, rather than just duration.

FAQs

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

You can use "have been prolonged" to describe something that has lasted longer than expected. For example: "The discussions "have been prolonged" due to disagreements."

What is a synonym for "have been prolonged"?

Synonyms for "have been prolonged" include "have been extended", "have been lengthened", or "have been protracted". Choose the synonym that best fits the context.

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

"Has been prolonged" is used with singular subjects, while "have been prolonged" is used with plural subjects. For example, "The meeting has been prolonged", but "The meetings "have been prolonged"."

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

"Have been prolonged" indicates a continuing state from the past to the present. "Were prolonged" indicates a completed action in the past. For instance, "The effects of the war "have been prolonged"" (still ongoing), vs. "The negotiations were prolonged" (already finished).