have not understood

USAGE SUMMARY

"have not understood" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is the present perfect tense of the verb "understand," indicating that the understanding did not occur in the past and may still not occur in the present. Example: "I have not understood the instructions for this assignment, could you please explain them to me again?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Really people have not understood.

The New York Times

Alas, they have not understood it.

The Guardian

You have not understood Muldoon, though, unless he perplexes you.

The New York Times - Books

"People have not understood that this was a speculation".

The New York Times - Science

Carl, it's obvious you have not understood a word I have said.

University of California, Berkeley

One important concept that we have not understood yet in terms of vectors is area.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Similarly, when listening, they should be empowered to say they have not understood something.

Harvard Business Review

He chastised "certain European states" that have not "understood how the world has changed".

The New York Times

"People on Long Island have not understood mixed use," he said.

The New York Times

Sapin told Le Monde: "I have not understood the comments made by the British authorities.

The Guardian - Business

Johnson is often thought to have not understood that Vietnam would be a quagmire.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have not understood" when emphasizing the ongoing or current state of non-understanding. This highlights that the lack of comprehension persists.

Common error

Avoid using "did not understood". The correct form is "did not understand" (past simple) or "have not understood" (present perfect). Mixing tenses can confuse your message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have not understood" functions as a verb phrase expressing a negative assertion in the present perfect tense. It indicates a lack of comprehension that extends from the past to the present. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have not understood" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to express a lack of comprehension. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it signifies that understanding has not been achieved up to the present moment. Predominantly found in news, scientific, and academic contexts, the phrase maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse communications. When using the phrase, clarity is key; always specify what hasn't been understood to avoid ambiguity. For situations requiring alternative phrasing, options like "did not comprehend" or "failed to grasp" offer similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did not comprehend

Replaces "have not understood" with a simpler past tense construction, focusing on a specific moment of non-understanding.

failed to grasp

Emphasizes the failure to fully understand something, suggesting a more active effort to understand.

have not grasped

Similar to "failed to grasp" but uses the present perfect tense, emphasizing the continuing lack of understanding.

were unable to understand

Highlights the inability to understand, often due to complexity or lack of information.

lack understanding of

Focuses on the absence of understanding as a current state, rather than a past event.

remain unclear on

Indicates that something is still not understood, implying ongoing confusion or ambiguity.

are still unclear about

Indicates something is not yet understood, usually it highlights more confusion or ambiguity.

did not get

Uses a more informal and concise way to express a lack of comprehension.

were confused by

Highlights the confusion experienced due to a lack of understanding.

did not fully appreciate

Suggests a lack of understanding of the importance or implications of something.

FAQs

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

You can use "have not understood" to indicate a lack of comprehension up to the present moment. For example, "I "have not understood" the instructions, could you explain them again?"

What's the difference between "have not understood" and "did not understand"?

"Have not understood" implies the lack of understanding continues to the present, while "did not understand" refers to a past event. Use "I "did not understand" the lecture yesterday" to refer to a past event.

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

You can use alternatives like "did not comprehend", "failed to grasp", or "were unable to understand" depending on the context.

Is "have not understood" formal or informal?

"Have not understood" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, alternatives like "did not get" are more informal.