have not caught

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have not caught" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has not captured or apprehended something, often in the context of understanding or achieving something. Example: "I have not caught the meaning of the poem despite reading it several times."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

The police have not caught him yet.

The New York Times

Social arrangements have not caught up with economic changes.

The Economist

So I have not caught a whiff of that.

The Washington Post

Yet our laws have not caught up with the science.

The Guardian

In general, the networks have not caught the tween wave.

The New York Times - Arts

So far, the political stories have not caught her eye.

The New York Times

But federal regulations have not caught up with this problem, he said.

The New York Times

Even the UN's own food bureaucracies have not caught up with the new facts.

The Economist

"Dress-down Fridays" and casual office wear have not caught on.

The Economist

The exceptions involve young players whose ratings have not caught up to their development.

The New York Times

Despite a growing audience for such games, developers say mainstream publishers have not caught up.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have not caught", ensure the subject and object are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify what hasn't been caught, whether it's an idea, a trend, or a criminal.

Common error

Avoid using "have not caught" when "did not catch" is more appropriate for past, completed actions. "Have not caught" implies a continuing state or relevance to the present.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have not caught" functions as a negative present perfect verb phrase, indicating an action that started in the past and continues to the present or has relevance to the present. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Science

25%

Academia

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have not caught" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression in English, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Its primary function is to indicate a lack of attainment, understanding, or apprehension that persists into the present. Predominantly found in contexts such as news and media, science, and academia, the phrase maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse communication needs. Remember to use it when referring to a present state or continuing relevance. Be mindful of its distinction from "did not catch", which refers to past completed actions. Using "have not caught" effectively ensures clarity and precision in conveying the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

haven't grasped

Replaces "caught" with "grasped", emphasizing a lack of understanding.

haven't understood

Substitutes "caught" with "understood", directly indicating a lack of comprehension.

failed to capture

Uses "failed to capture" to indicate a lack of success in obtaining something.

haven't apprehended

Replaces "caught" with "apprehended", implying a failure to seize or arrest.

missed the opportunity

Highlights a missed chance, moving away from direct capture to a broader sense of failure.

not yet achieved

Focuses on the absence of accomplishment.

remain unaware of

Shifts the focus to a lack of awareness or knowledge.

are still lagging behind

Indicates a lack of progress or advancement.

have yet to realize

Emphasizes that something has not happened up to the present time.

failed to notice

Indicates a lack of attention or observation.

FAQs

How can I use "have not caught" in a sentence?

Use "have not caught" to indicate that something hasn't been apprehended, understood, or achieved up to the present. For example, "The police "have not caught" the suspect yet" or "I "have not caught" the latest fashion trend".

What's the difference between "have not caught" and "did not catch"?

"Have not caught" implies a state continuing to the present, while "did not catch" refers to a completed action in the past. "I "did not catch" the bus this morning" means you missed it, whereas "I "have not caught" a fish all day" means you still haven't caught one.

What can I say instead of "have not caught" when referring to understanding something?

You can use alternatives like "have not grasped", "have not understood", or "failed to comprehend" depending on the context.

Is "have not caught on" the same as "have not caught"?

No, "have not caught on" typically means something has not become popular or widely accepted, while ""have not caught"" is more general and can refer to physically catching something, understanding something, or achieving something else. For example, "The new trend "has not caught on" yet" versus "The police "have not caught" the thief".