have been purchasing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been purchasing" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate an ongoing action that started in the past and continues into the present, often in contexts related to buying or acquiring items over a period of time. Example: "We have been purchasing supplies for the upcoming project to ensure we have everything we need."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Money managers have been purchasing shares.

The New York Times

Please click on the icon below to get the feel of what we have been purchasing from Colombia.

University of California, Berkeley

Because farmers here have been purchasing and even importing cows from places like Australia and New Zealand, production has more than doubled in the last few years.

The New York Times

The new owners have been purchasing the town houses for $84,000 with the help of federal, state and private grants.

The New York Times

For the most part, employees have been purchasing modest numbers of shares through employee stock-ownership plans; in New Economy firms, though, even the secretaries tend to have options.

The New York Times - Magazine

With climate change, it's easy to follow the money that bought the nutty opinions: big coal-burning utilities have the most to lose in the effort to curb greenhouse gases, and have been purchasing opinion and politicians as the urgency has increased.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

So far 10 houses have been purchased.

The New York Times

have been purchased and held by the Corporation.

Cornell University

For you have been purchased at a price.

Harvard University

Others came through gifts, and several hundred have been purchased.

The New York Times - Arts

So far 3,000 Bradleys have been purchased at $1.5 million apiece.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been purchasing" to emphasize the ongoing or repeated nature of the buying activity. For instance, "The company has been purchasing new equipment to improve efficiency."

Common error

Avoid using "have been purchasing" when a simple past tense like "purchased" is more appropriate if the action is completed and not ongoing. For instance, instead of "They have been purchasing the house last year", say "They purchased the house last year".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been purchasing" functions as the present perfect continuous tense of the verb "purchase". It describes an action that started in the past and continues to the present, often emphasizing the duration or repetition of the action. Ludwig AI indicates this usage is correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have been purchasing" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a continuous action of buying that started in the past and is still ongoing. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It finds frequent use in News & Media and Academic contexts. The choice between "have been purchasing" and alternatives like "have been buying" depends on the desired level of formality, with "purchasing" leaning towards a more professional tone. Remember to avoid using it when a simple past tense would be more appropriate for completed actions. Overall, the examples suggest this expression is versatile and appropriate in several settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been buying

Uses a more common and general term for acquiring goods.

have been acquiring

Implies a more formal or strategic acquisition process.

have been obtaining

Suggests effort or a specific method in getting something.

have been securing

Highlights the act of making something safe or certain through acquisition.

have been investing in

Focuses on the financial aspect and potential return of the acquisition.

have been procuring

Indicates a formal or official process of obtaining goods or services.

have been picking up

Suggests a casual or informal acquisition of items.

have been stocking up on

Emphasizes accumulating a large quantity of something.

have been taking on

Focuses on assuming responsibility or control through acquisition.

have been gathering

Implies collecting items over time, possibly from various sources.

FAQs

What's the difference between "have been purchasing" and "have purchased"?

"Have been purchasing" implies an ongoing or repeated action, while "have purchased" indicates a completed action. For example, "I "have been purchasing" groceries here for years" versus "I "have purchased" a new car".

When should I use "have been purchasing" instead of "have been buying"?

"Have been purchasing" is more formal and often used in business contexts, while "have been buying" is more general and common in everyday conversation. Both are grammatically correct, but the choice depends on the desired tone and formality.

What are some alternative phrases to "have been purchasing" that I can use?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "have been acquiring", "have been obtaining", or "have been procuring" to convey a similar meaning with slightly different nuances.

Is "have been purchasing" always used in the present perfect continuous tense?

Yes, "have been purchasing" is the present perfect continuous form of the verb "purchase". It indicates an action that started in the past and is continuing into the present. For instance, "She "has been purchasing" organic foods for the past year".