have not been given

USAGE SUMMARY

"have not been given" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about something that has not been given to someone. For example: "The students have not been given the textbooks they need to start the school year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Such guarantees have not been given.

Independent

They have not been given access to lawyers".

The Guardian

"We have not been given the numbers of dead yet.

The New York Times

But I have not been given pencil and paper".

Independent

Remaining partners and associates have not been given such notice.

The New York Times

Detection and recovery from PDoS attacks have not been given much attention in the literature.

Journal of Network and Computer Applications

Five other soldiers were injured, though their nationalities have not been given.

The Times

Wiest said many of the children at Assumption Academy have not been given the chickenpox vaccine.

The Washington Post

"We have not been given any tangible proof to say that he is definitely a Pakistani.

The New York Times

Three Liberal Democrat candidates who have donated large amounts have not been given winnable seats.

The Times

I have not been given an explanation why he did it.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider replacing "have not been given" with stronger verbs like "denied", "refused", or "withheld" to emphasize the intentionality behind the lack of provision.

Common error

While grammatically correct, overuse of passive voice constructions like "have not been given" can weaken your writing. If possible, rephrase to use an active voice. For instance, instead of "They have not been given the information", consider "We did not give them the information."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have not been given" functions as a passive construction, indicating that someone or something has not received something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have not been given" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that serves to indicate a lack of provision or receipt. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage is widespread across various contexts, including news, science, and general communication. While it is generally acceptable, writers should be mindful of potential overuse of passive voice and consider alternative active constructions for more impactful writing. Common synonyms include "did not receive" and "were denied". The phrase is seen most often in News & Media contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were not provided with

Focuses on the act of providing, emphasizing the lack of supply.

did not receive

Simple and direct, indicating a lack of receipt.

were denied

Emphasizes the refusal or withholding of something.

were not granted

Highlights the formal act of granting and its absence.

have been refused

Indicates an active denial of something requested or expected.

have been withheld

Stresses the act of holding something back.

were not allowed

Focuses on the permission aspect, indicating a lack of authorization.

were lacking

Highlights a deficiency or absence of something needed.

were deprived of

Emphasizes the act of taking something away or preventing access.

were not furnished with

A more formal way of saying something wasn't supplied.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "have not been given" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "were not furnished with" or "were not granted" depending on the context.

What are some common synonyms for "have not been given"?

Common synonyms include "did not receive", "were denied", or "were lacking". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "have not been given"?

While "have not been given" is grammatically correct in the passive voice, using the active voice can often make your writing more direct and impactful. For example, instead of "They have not been given the opportunity", try "We did not give them the opportunity".

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

"Have not been given" and "were not provided with" are quite similar. "Were not provided" emphasizes the act of supplying, while "have not been given" focuses on the act of receiving. The choice often depends on which aspect you want to highlight.