have gained nothing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have gained nothing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a lack of progress or benefit from an experience or effort. Example: "After months of hard work, I feel like I have gained nothing from this project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

The dopes have gained nothing.

The New York Times

They have gained nothing from it".

The Guardian

Many of the Maoists' recruits are from India's marginalised tribal communities who have gained nothing from their country's recent economic growth.

The Guardian

Worse, the army appeared to have gained nothing from it.It had apparently aimed to capture the town of Pallai as a prelude to retaking the more important Elephant Pass, a causeway linking the Jaffna peninsula to the southern mainland.

The Economist

This is as follows: a) either it agrees to the free movement of people in exchange for access to the single market, in which case the pro-Brexit camp will have gained nothing except massive embarrassment, or b) the EU slams the shutters down.

The Guardian - Opinion

He says: "I do not want to say it was a great negotiation in 2010 and a poor set of negotiations in 2015 but in 2010 we negotiated off the table the scale and scope review which is still on the table this time so they [the BBC] have gained nothing at all.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Worse, the Islamabad government has gained nothing from it.

The New York Times

Ford has knocked the Republican Party flat on it s back, has shattered his support, & has gained nothing in return.

The New Yorker

Poverty was most acute and widespread in rural areas, where peasant families had gained nothing from the partial division of large feudal estates.

Encyclopedia Britannica

St Pat's claimed that it was a mere clerical error and that they had gained nothing by it, but the league stood firm – their decision was final.

The Guardian - Sport

Between those dates I had worked my way through scores of books on the subject; and while I might have gained in knowledge, I had gained nothing at all in penetration.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have gained nothing" to clearly express that efforts or actions have not resulted in any positive outcome or benefit. Ensure the context makes it clear what efforts are being referred to.

Common error

Avoid using "have gained nothing" when you actually mean "have gained little". The phrase implies a complete absence of gain, so ensure it accurately reflects the situation you're describing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have gained nothing" functions as a verb phrase indicating a complete absence of benefit or progress. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts. Examples show it describing situations where effort or actions have not yielded any positive results.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have gained nothing" is a versatile and grammatically sound expression used to convey a complete lack of benefit or progress. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its correctness and common usage across diverse contexts, from news reports to scientific discussions. While alternatives like ""have achieved nothing"" or ""have obtained nothing"" exist, it's important to ensure the context warrants the strong negative implication of absolute zero gain. Primarily found in News & Media, Science, and Encyclopedia sources, this phrase serves to express disappointment or assess the ineffectiveness of certain actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have achieved nothing

Focuses on the lack of accomplishment or attainment.

have accomplished nothing

Emphasizes the absence of successful completion or achievement.

have obtained nothing

Emphasizes the absence of acquisition or receipt.

have received nothing

Highlights the lack of acquisition

have earned nothing

Highlights the lack of deserving or receiving something through effort.

have profited not

Emphasizes the absence of profit or advantage gained.

have yielded no results

Focuses on the absence of positive outcomes or consequences.

have benefited not

Focuses on the lack of positive impact or advantage derived.

have not benefited

A more direct and grammatically simple alternative.

have not profited

A more direct and grammatically simple alternative

FAQs

What does "have gained nothing" mean?

The phrase "have gained nothing" means that someone or something has not obtained any benefit, advantage, or progress from a particular action or situation. It implies a complete lack of positive outcome.

What can I say instead of "have gained nothing"?

You can use alternatives like "have achieved nothing", "have obtained nothing", or "have earned nothing" depending on the context.

How to use "have gained nothing" in a sentence?

You can use "have gained nothing" to express a lack of progress or benefit. For example: "After months of negotiations, they have gained nothing."

Is it correct to say "had gained nothing" instead of "have gained nothing"?

Yes, "had gained nothing" is correct, but it indicates a past perfect tense. Use "had gained nothing" to describe a situation where, at a specific point in the past, someone had not gained anything up to that point. "Have gained nothing" refers to the present perfect tense, describing something that started in the past and continues to have relevance to the present.