have been supplying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been supplying" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate an ongoing action that started in the past and continues to the present, often in the context of providing goods or services. Example: "We have been supplying our clients with high-quality materials for over a decade."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

Bands with guitars have been supplying much of the hedonistic tuneage for a few years now.

The Guardian - Music

He also claims two senior unnamed Sinn Féin politicians have been supplying information to British intelligence for many years.

The Guardian

Since then, these standard machines have been supplying different applications with either LHe or refrigeration power at 4.5 K.

Proceedings of the Twentieth International Cryogenic Engineering Conference (ICEC20)

In recent years, tropical countries have been supplying growing amounts of palm oil, soybeans, sugar, meat and other processed products to distant markets abroad.

Columbia University

The state oil company's revenues have been supplying the federal government with a massive 40% of its spending, leaving it with little to devote to exploration and refining.

The Economist

More controversial was a missile launched against a pharmaceutical factory in Sudan wrongly supposed to have been supplying chemical weapons to al-Qaeda.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

The original folder headings, when present, have been retained; others have been supplied.

Cornell University

The parabolic trough solar collector field has been supplied by Abengoa, and the power block and the Heat Transfer Fluid (HTF) system have been supplied by IIT Bombay.

Energy Procedia

Its Hawk jet trainers have been supplied to the British Royal Air Force and widely exported.

Encyclopedia Britannica

And yesterday it transpired that horsemeat-tainted burgers have been supplied to hospitals in Northern Ireland.

Independent

Instead, fresh subsidies have been supplied, out of sight, by China's state banks.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have been supplying", ensure the context clearly indicates an ongoing or repeated action that started in the past and continues to the present. This emphasizes the duration and consistency of the supply.

Common error

Avoid using "have been supplying" when referring to a single, completed event in the past. Use the past simple tense instead, such as "supplied", to indicate the action is finished.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been supplying" functions as a present perfect continuous verb phrase. It describes an action that started in the past and is still ongoing. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Academia

17%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have been supplying" is a present perfect continuous verb construction used to describe ongoing actions that began in the past and continue to the present. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and frequently used across various contexts, including News & Media, Academia, and Science. When using "have been supplying", ensure clarity regarding the duration and continuity of the action, and avoid using it for single, completed events. Alternatives like "have been providing" or "have been furnishing" can be used to add nuance. With a neutral register, this phrase is suitable for a wide array of communications, making it a valuable addition to any writer's toolkit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been providing

Replaces "supplying" with "providing", emphasizing the act of giving or making available.

have been furnishing

Substitutes "supplying" with "furnishing", suggesting the provision of something necessary or useful.

have been delivering

Replaces "supplying" with "delivering", highlighting the act of transporting and handing over.

have been offering

Changes "supplying" to "offering", focusing on presenting or making something available.

have been equipping

Replaces "supplying" with "equipping", implying the provision of necessary items for a specific purpose.

have been stocking

Substitutes "supplying" with "stocking", suggesting the act of accumulating a supply of goods.

have been contributing

Replaces "supplying" with "contributing", focusing on providing a part or share of something.

have been giving

Changes "supplying" to "giving", a more general term for providing.

have been allocating

Replaces "supplying" with "allocating", implying the distribution of resources.

have been feeding

Substitutes "supplying" with "feeding", specifically related to providing nourishment or sustenance.

FAQs

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

Use "have been supplying" to describe an action of providing something regularly over time, like, "The company "have been supplying" parts to the automotive industry for over a decade".

What are some alternatives to "have been supplying"?

You can use alternatives like "have been providing", "have been furnishing", or "have been delivering" depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "have been supplying" and "have supplied"?

"Have been supplying" indicates a continuous action up to the present, while "have supplied" suggests a completed action. For instance, "We "have been supplying" them for years" versus "We "have supplied" them once".

What's the best way to choose between "have been supplying" and "are supplying"?

"Have been supplying" is used for actions that started in the past and continue to the present. "Are supplying" describes a present action, often temporary. For example, "They "have been supplying" parts for years" (ongoing) versus "They "are supplying" parts this week" (temporary).