have been sent

USAGE SUMMARY

'have been sent' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an action that occurred in the past. For example, "The documents have been sent to the client."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Envoys have been sent north.

The Economist

The invitations have been sent.

The New York Times

Some soldiers have been sent.

The Economist

Letters have been sent, petitions drawn up.

The New York Times

No observers have been sent.

The New York Times

More than 1,000 emails have been sent.

The Guardian

So the workers have been sent underground.

The New York Times

"Mascherano should not have been sent off.

The Guardian - Sport

He should have been sent off.

The Guardian - Sport

Over 45m text messages have been sent.

The Guardian

Helicopters have been sent in," Avakov said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have been sent", ensure the subject and verb agree in number. For example, use "messages have been sent" for plural subjects and "a message has been sent" for singular subjects.

Common error

Avoid using "have been send". The correct past participle of "send" is "sent". Always use "have been sent" to maintain proper grammatical structure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been sent" functions as a passive voice construction indicating that an action of sending has been completed. This is evident across numerous examples provided by Ludwig. The auxiliary verb "have" combined with "been" and the past participle "sent" creates the perfect passive tense.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Science

2%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have been sent" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that signifies the completion of a sending action. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and applicability across diverse contexts, primarily in news and media. When employing this phrase, ensure proper tense and subject-verb agreement. Common errors include using the incorrect form "have been send". Alternatives such as "have been dispatched" or "have been forwarded" may offer nuanced shades of meaning for precise communication. Given its widespread use and grammatical validity, mastering "have been sent" will enhance clarity and accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been dispatched

A more formal synonym for 'have been sent', emphasizing the act of sending something officially.

were dispatched

Replaces 'have been sent' with a more formal and often logistical tone.

have been forwarded

Implies that something was sent on from an initial recipient or location.

have been transmitted

Suggests the sending of information or signals, often used in technical contexts.

were transmitted

Indicates that something was sent, especially data or signals, electronically.

have been mailed

Specifically denotes that items were sent through the postal service.

were mailed

Specifically refers to sending something via postal mail.

have been delivered

Emphasizes the completed action of something arriving at its intended destination.

have been shipped

Indicates something has been sent via a shipping service.

were delivered

Focuses on the successful arrival of something at its destination.

FAQs

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

"Have been sent" indicates a completed action in the past. For example, "The invitations "have been sent" to all the guests".

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

You can use alternatives such as "have been dispatched", "have been forwarded", or "have been delivered" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "have been sent" or "have been send"?

"Have been sent" is the correct form. "Send" is the base verb, "sent" is the past participle.

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

"Have been sent" implies the action is completed and relevant to the present, while "were sent" simply indicates a past action without necessarily emphasizing its current relevance.