have prevented

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have prevented" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an action has successfully stopped something from happening in the past and has relevance to the present. Example: "The new regulations have prevented many accidents from occurring in the workplace."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"We have prevented several attacks.

Independent

We could not have prevented 7/7".

Independent

And could British spymasters have prevented it?

The New York Times

They have prevented millions of deaths.

The New Yorker

Tougher regulations might have prevented this.

The Economist

How could I have prevented this?

The Guardian

Kentucky could have prevented overtime.

The New York Times - Sports

Could you have prevented it?

The Guardian

"I could have prevented this," said Mr Edgar.

The Economist

Would he have prevented her marriage?

The New York Times - Books

Then we could have prevented it".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have prevented" to clearly indicate that a past action successfully stopped something from happening. For instance, "The security measures have prevented any breaches to the system."

Common error

Avoid using "have prevented" when referring to future events. It's a past perfect construction. Instead, use "will prevent" or "can prevent" for future scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have prevented" functions as a past perfect construction indicating a completed action in the past that had a direct effect on preventing something else from happening. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriate usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have prevented" is a versatile phrase used to describe actions that successfully stopped something from happening in the past. Ludwig AI analysis indicates its correct usage in various contexts, especially in news and media and scientific publications. Remember to use it accurately to denote past perfect scenarios and consider alternatives like "have averted" or "have avoided" for nuanced expression. Avoid tense errors by reserving it for past events, and use tools like Ludwig to ensure accurate context and usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have averted

Focuses on successfully avoiding a negative outcome, similar to prevention.

have avoided

Implies keeping away from something, often a danger or problem.

have stopped

A more general term for halting something, applicable in many contexts.

have hindered

Suggests making it difficult for something to proceed, lessening its impact.

have blocked

Emphasizes obstruction, preventing progress or continuation.

have forestalled

Highlights acting in advance to prevent something.

have precluded

Indicates making something impossible, thus preventing it.

have mitigated

Focuses on reducing the severity or impact, rather than outright prevention.

have deterred

Implies discouraging or restraining someone from doing something.

have impeded

Indicates slowing down or obstructing progress, preventing full realization.

FAQs

How can I use "have prevented" in a sentence?

Use "have prevented" to describe how a past action successfully stopped something from occurring. For example, "The new policies "have prevented" many accidents."

What are some alternatives to "have prevented"?

You can use alternatives like "have averted", "have avoided", or "have stopped" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "have prevented" and "have avoided"?

"Have prevented" implies stopping something from happening altogether, while "have avoided" suggests keeping away from something, not necessarily stopping it entirely. The nuance depends on the situation.

When should I use "have prevented" versus "could have prevented"?

"Have prevented" indicates a factual outcome: something did stop something else. "Could "have prevented"" is conditional, meaning something might have stopped something else, but there's uncertainty.