have not seen

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "have not seen" is grammatically correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to an action in the past that has not happened. For example, "I have not seen him since last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I have not seen that.

Independent

They have not seen the playground.

The New York Times

They have not seen the Google glasses.

The New York Times - Tech

"I just have not seen it".

The New York Times

I have not seen Wofford play.

The New York Times - Sports

Fortunately, I have not seen blows exchanged.

The New York Times

"I have not seen any such document".

The New York Times

"They have not seen the front line".

The New York Times - Magazine

I have not seen "Stealing Beauty".

The New Yorker

"We have not seen it yet.

The New York Times

But you have not seen them".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have not seen", ensure the context clearly indicates what has not been seen and why it's relevant to the discussion. This prevents ambiguity and strengthens your point.

Common error

Avoid using "have not seen" when the situation calls for a simple past tense. For example, instead of "I have not seen that movie last night", use "I did not see that movie last night".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have not seen" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect tense, expressing the absence of a visual experience or observation up to the present moment. According to Ludwig AI, this is a grammatically correct construction.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Academia

28%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have not seen" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase that expresses a lack of visual experience or observation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a standard construction in English. Its versatility allows it to fit into both formal and informal contexts, although it is most prevalent in news and academic media. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what hasn't been seen. Remember to use simple past tense in some past events, and choose synonyms like “have not observed” for increased formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

haven't observed

Replaces "seen" with "observed", implying a more formal or scientific observation.

have not witnessed

Substitutes "seen" with "witnessed", suggesting personal experience or being present at an event.

I am unaware of

Shifts the focus to the speaker's lack of awareness, rather than the act of seeing.

I haven't noticed

Emphasizes a lack of attention or observation.

I have no knowledge of

Indicates a complete lack of information about something.

I've never laid eyes on

An idiomatic expression meaning to never have seen something before, often used for emphasis.

I have not detected

Implies a more scientific or technical observation is lacking.

remains unseen

Shifts the perspective to something that exists but hasn't been observed, often suggesting mystery or potential.

has eluded my observation

Indicates something has avoided being seen or noticed, despite effort.

escaped my attention

Suggests something was overlooked or not noticed due to distraction or other factors.

FAQs

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

You can use "have not seen" to indicate that you have not witnessed or experienced something. For example, "I "have not seen any evidence" to support that claim."

What is a more formal way to say "have not seen"?

More formal alternatives include "have not observed", "have not witnessed", or "am unaware of", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "haven't seen" instead of "have not seen"?

Yes, "haven't seen" is a contraction of "have not seen" and is perfectly acceptable in informal contexts. Both phrases "have not seen it" and "haven't seen it" are grammatically sound.

What's the difference between "have not seen" and "did not see"?

"Have not seen" implies the action of seeing hasn't occurred up to the present moment, while "did not see" refers to a specific instance in the past. For example, "I "have not seen him today"" vs. "I "did not see him at the party"".