have been promised

USAGE SUMMARY

"have been promised" is a valid phrase that can be used in written English.
Example: I have been promised a raise at the end of the month.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

More redesigns have been promised.

The New York Times - Tech

Champagne and caviar have been promised.

The New York Times

Officers coming forward have been promised anonymity.

The Economist

More powers and cash have been promised.

The Economist

Millions more dollars have been promised.

The New York Times

Already, more sops have been promised next year.

The Economist

Lavish funds have been promised for reconstruction and rehabilitation.

The Economist

Billions have been promised, little has actually happened.

The Economist

Bolivians have been promised too many big victories.

The New Yorker

An additional 15 or so items have been promised.

The New York Times

New characters and new mysteries have been promised.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been promised" in contexts where you want to emphasize the expectation or assurance that something will occur in the future. It is particularly useful when discussing agreements, commitments, or guarantees.

Common error

Avoid using "have been promised" without specifying who made the promise. Vague statements lack credibility and can be confusing for the reader. Always provide context to reinforce the statement's validity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been promised" functions as the passive voice of the verb 'promise' in the present perfect tense. It indicates that someone has received a promise, emphasizing the state of being assured rather than the act of promising. As Ludwig AI states, it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Academia

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have been promised" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to express the state of being assured of something, as validated by Ludwig AI. Its high frequency across various sources, including news outlets, academic texts, and business communications, underscores its broad applicability. While it's essential to specify who made the promise and its terms, "have been promised" effectively conveys an expectation of fulfillment. Alternatives like "were guaranteed" or "were pledged" can be used depending on the specific context. Overall, the phrase serves as a valuable tool in expressing commitments and assurances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been guaranteed

Highlights that some guarantee exists about something.

have been pledged

Similar, but emphasizes the formal nature of the promise.

were made a promise

Focuses on the act of making a promise.

were guaranteed

Emphasizes certainty in receiving something.

were pledged

Highlights a formal commitment or vow.

were assured of

Replaces the passive construction with a more direct assertion of assurance.

were assured

Focuses on the feeling of certainty that someone created.

were given a guarantee

Rephrases as the act of giving a guarantee.

were given an assurance

Rephrases as the act of giving assurance.

were led to believe

Suggests a less formal or firm promise, possibly implying deception.

FAQs

How to use "have been promised" in a sentence?

You can use "have been promised" to indicate that someone has received an assurance that something will happen. For example, "The employees "have been promised" bonuses if the company meets its targets."

What can I say instead of "have been promised"?

You can use alternatives like "were assured", "were guaranteed", or "were pledged" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "have been promised" or "was promised"?

Both "have been promised" and "was promised" are grammatically correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Was promised" is used when referring to a past promise made to a singular subject, while "have been promised" is used when referring to a past promise made to a plural subject or in contexts requiring the present perfect tense.

What is the difference between "have been promised" and "having been promised"?

"Have been promised" is in the present perfect passive voice, indicating a completed action with ongoing relevance. "Having been promised" is a perfect participle phrase, often used to introduce a reason or condition. For example, "Having been promised a raise, he worked harder."