have torn

USAGE SUMMARY

'have torn' is a valid part of a sentence in written English.
It is the present perfect tense of the verb "tear," and it is used to indicate that an action happened in the past but has an effect on the present. For example, "We have torn up the old carpet and need to find a replacement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Travel

Arts

Books

Science

Sports

Business

Politics

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Never should have torn down the Iron Curtain.

The New York Times

It would have torn him apart".

The New York Times

Customs officers have torn me apart.

The Guardian - Travel

Plenty of owners have torn apart winning teams.

The New York Times

High fuel costs have torn into profits across the industry.

The New York Times

"I could have torn something or done something else".

The New York Times - Sports

They would have torn it down and rebuilt it properly.

The New York Times - Arts

I have torn a muscle in my thigh".

The New Yorker

It could have torn us apart or made us stronger.

The New York Times - Sports

But, after three years, generational differences have torn us apart.

The New Yorker

I would have — literally, I think I would have torn him apart.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have torn" to describe situations where something has been forcibly separated or severely damaged, emphasizing the action's completion and its present consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "have tore" instead of "have torn". "Torn" is the correct past participle form of the verb "tear" when using the present perfect tense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have torn" functions as the present perfect tense of the verb 'to tear'. According to Ludwig AI, it indicates an action that happened in the past but has a present relevance or consequence, indicating something has been forcibly separated or damaged.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Sports

8%

Travel

3%

Less common in

Arts

3%

Books

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have torn" is the present perfect form of the verb 'to tear', used to describe a past action with present consequences. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and common usage. It's crucial to remember that "torn" is the correct past participle, not "tore". As demonstrated by Ludwig's examples, this phrase is commonly found in News & Media, sports reports, and general descriptive writing, indicating its versatility and prevalence in the English language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have ripped

Replaces "torn" with "ripped", maintaining a similar sense of forceful separation or damage.

have shredded

Substitutes "torn" with "shredded", suggesting a more violent and fragmented form of damage.

have fragmented

Replaces "torn" with "fragmented", focusing on the breaking apart into smaller pieces.

have ruptured

Substitutes "torn" with "ruptured", indicating a sudden break or burst.

have split

Replaces "torn" with "split", conveying a division into two or more parts.

have divided

Substitutes "torn" with "divided", focusing on a separation or disagreement.

have damaged

Replaces "torn" with "damaged", using a more general term for harm or injury.

have destroyed

Substitutes "torn" with "destroyed", indicating complete ruin or devastation.

have dismantled

Replaces "torn" with "dismantled", suggesting a careful taking apart or deconstruction.

have undermined

Substitutes "torn" with "undermined", focusing on weakening or destabilizing something.

FAQs

How is "have torn" used in a sentence?

The phrase "have torn" indicates an action that happened in the past and is relevant to the present. For example, "The storm "have torn" down the old barn" shows the storm is over, but the barn is now destroyed.

What are some alternatives to "have torn"?

You can use alternatives such as "have ripped", "have shredded", or "have damaged" depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "have tore" instead of "have torn"?

No, "have tore" is grammatically incorrect. The correct past participle of "tear" to use with the auxiliary verb "have" is "torn". Thus, the proper phrase is ""have torn"".

What's the difference between "have torn" and "had torn"?

"Have torn" is in the present perfect tense, indicating an action completed at an unspecified time before now, whereas "had torn" is in the past perfect tense, indicating an action completed before another point in the past.