have not been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'have not been' is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used in the present perfect tense to indicate an action that has been completed in the past but has an effect on the present. For example: "The roads have not been cleared since the snowstorm, so many people are still stranded inside their homes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And we have not been.

The New York Times

Billings have not been determined.

The New York Times

Sewers have not been repaired.

The New Yorker

But they have not been.

The Economist

They have not been answered.

Independent

They have not been replaced.

The New York Times

Prices have not been announced.

The New York Times

I have not been disappointed.

The New York Times

But I have not been".

The New York Times - Sports

Lately, they have not been.

The New York Times

Journalists have not been spared.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have not been", ensure the context clearly indicates the timeframe and the relevance to the present situation. This helps avoid ambiguity and ensures clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "have not been" when a simple past tense is more appropriate. For example, instead of "I have not been to the store yesterday", use "I did not go to the store yesterday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have not been" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect tense, typically used to indicate that an action or event did not occur at some point in the past up to the present. Ludwig confirms its correct grammatical use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have not been" is a versatile and grammatically sound verb phrase widely used to negate actions or states from the past that have relevance to the present. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in written English. It appears most frequently in news, scientific, and academic contexts. When using "have not been", ensure correct tense usage and clarity of context to avoid ambiguity. Related phrases such as "have yet to be" and "did not happen" offer alternative ways to express similar meanings. With a high expert rating and consistent usage across authoritative sources, "have not been" is a reliable choice for clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have yet to be

Emphasizes that something is still pending or expected in the future.

has not occurred

Focuses specifically on the non-occurrence of an event.

has not materialized

Implies that something expected or planned did not happen.

was not

A simple past tense negation, indicating something was not in a particular state or location.

did not happen

Directly states that an event did not take place.

remains undone

Highlights the incomplete or unfinished state of something.

is still pending

Indicates that a decision or action is awaiting completion.

is lacking

Focuses on the absence of a necessary element or quality.

fails to be

Suggests a deficiency or inability to reach a certain state.

was never

Emphasizes that something has at no point in the past been a certain way or existed.

FAQs

How to use "have not been" in a sentence?

Use "have not been" to indicate an action that started in the past and continues to the present or has relevance to the present. For example, "I "have not been" to that restaurant before."

What can I say instead of "have not been"?

You can use alternatives like "have yet to be", "has not occurred", or "did not happen" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "have not been" or "has not been"?

"Have not been" is used with plural subjects (e.g., "They have not been informed"), while "has not been" is used with singular subjects (e.g., "He has not been informed").

What's the difference between "have not been" and "were not"?

"Have not been" implies a state continuing from the past to the present, while "were not" refers to a state exclusively in the past. For example, "They "have not been" contacted yet" (implying they still haven't been), versus "They "were not" available yesterday" (referring to a specific past time).