have been trapped

USAGE SUMMARY

"have been trapped" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is the past perfect tense of the verb "to trap," and is used to show an action that was completed in the past and has a continuing effect in the present. Example: "The hikers have been trapped in the cave for three days due to the heavy snowfall."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The name means "where the waters have been trapped".

Encyclopedia Britannica

The miners have been trapped since Sunday morning.

The New York Times

People have been trapped for weeks and I imagine he'd get a pretty hostile reception there.

Independent

And that's because these borrowers have been trapped by Wall Street.

The New York Times

"There are a lot of people in the hotel who might have been trapped.

The New York Times

The local authorities feared that shoppers might have been trapped below ground.

The New York Times

Hundreds of thousands of people have been trapped by this fighting.

The Economist

Sixty to 120 people are thought to have been trapped inside.

The Economist

The people of Cuba have been trapped in a cold war nightmare.

The New York Times

"A few more minutes, and we'd have been trapped," he said.

Independent

Residents have been trapped in their homes, unable to buy food or drinking water.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been trapped" to describe a situation where someone or something is currently in a state of confinement due to past events. Ensure the context clearly indicates the cause and continuing effect of being trapped.

Common error

Avoid using "have been trapped" when describing a future event. Use future tense constructions such as "will be trapped" or "are going to be trapped" for future scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been trapped" functions as the past perfect passive voice of the verb "trap". It indicates an action completed in the past with continuing relevance to the present, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

12%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have been trapped" is a versatile verb phrase indicating a past action with present implications. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and suitable for diverse contexts. Predominantly found in news and media, it describes situations of confinement, with authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian frequently using it. While alternatives such as "are stuck" exist, it's essential to consider the nuance of ongoing impact when choosing the most fitting expression. It's crucial to use this phrase in contexts where past events directly result in a current state of being trapped, avoiding future tense scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are caught

This is a simpler, more direct way of saying that someone is in a difficult situation from which they cannot easily escape.

are stuck

This alternative uses a more informal expression to indicate being in a difficult or immovable situation.

are confined

This alternative suggests a more formal and potentially long-term state of restriction.

are immobilized

This alternative focuses on the inability to move or act freely.

are ensnared

This alternative implies being caught in a more subtle or deceptive way.

are cornered

This alternative implies being in a situation with no easy escape, often used in a metaphorical sense.

are hemmed in

This alternative implies being restricted or constrained by something.

are held captive

This alternative implies a forced confinement, often by another entity.

are besieged

This alternative suggests being surrounded by difficulties or enemies.

are marooned

This alternative suggests being stranded in a remote location.

FAQs

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

Use "have been trapped" to describe a situation where someone or something is currently in a state of confinement due to past events. For instance, "The miners "have been trapped" underground since the explosion."

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

You can use alternatives like "are stuck", "are confined", or "are caught" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "have been trapped" or "are trapped"?

"Have been trapped" indicates that the state of being trapped started in the past and continues to the present, while "are trapped" simply describes the present state. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the past event leading to the current situation.

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

"Have been trapped" implies a continuing state from a past event to the present, while "were trapped" describes a past event that is now over. For instance, "They "were trapped" but have since been rescued" indicates the trapping event is over.