he has grabbed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he has grabbed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has taken hold of something in the recent past, often with a sense of urgency or decisiveness. Example: "In a moment of excitement, he has grabbed the trophy and held it high above his head."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

In sum, he said that if he has grabbed one player, he has grabbed them all.

The New York Times - Sports

He has grabbed its talent, putting many left-wingers into government.

The Economist

He has grabbed his opportunity with both hands and is getting better and better.

Independent

He might not be running for president, but he has grabbed a bit of the national spotlight.

The New York Times

But, to do it, he has grabbed all the major economic, political, security, and royal court portfolios.

The New Yorker

For every extra £1 Osborne has taken in income tax, he has grabbed £2 more in NI.

The Guardian - Money

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

During an interview for a The New York Times piece published in January 2012, Pistorius relayed an anecdote about how "he had grabbed his gun and tiptoed downstairs" upon hearing a non-existent intruder.

Huffington Post

Once he had grabbed the block, his feet slid against it as he pulled himself up.

The New Yorker

That September, Knight was fired after a student said he had grabbed his arm.

The New York Times - Sports

The reason he got away with it is that he had grabbed so many modernist works.

The Guardian - Arts

Russell Ainsworth, a partner at Loevy & Loevy, asked Boudreau if he had grabbed Jody Rogers's arm and twisted it.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he has grabbed" to convey a sense of immediacy or urgency when describing someone taking hold of an opportunity, object, or concept. It implies a quick and decisive action.

Common error

While "he has grabbed" is acceptable, avoid overuse in formal or academic writing. Opt for more neutral alternatives like "he has obtained" or "he has secured" for a more professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he has grabbed" functions as a verb phrase, specifically in the present perfect tense. It indicates an action completed by a male subject in the recent past. As Ludwig AI suggests, it is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he has grabbed" is a grammatically sound and commonly used verb phrase in the present perfect tense. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to describe a male subject's action of taking or seizing something, often with a connotation of speed or opportunism. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it maintains a neutral register. While effective in conveying immediacy, writers should consider more formal alternatives like "he has secured" or "he has obtained" for academic or business writing. Overall, "he has grabbed" is a versatile and readily understood expression for describing a decisive action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he has seized

Implies a forceful or decisive taking of something, often with authority or control.

he has taken hold of

Suggests gaining control or influence over something, sometimes after effort.

he has captured

Indicates gaining possession of something, either physically or metaphorically, like attention or market share.

he has secured

Highlights the achievement of obtaining something, often through effort or planning.

he has attained

Implies reaching a certain level or acquiring something significant.

he has laid claim to

Indicates asserting ownership or entitlement to something.

he has commandeered

Suggests taking control of something, often temporarily and for a specific purpose.

he has appropriated

Implies taking something for one's own use, sometimes without permission.

he has snatched

Indicates a sudden and often opportunistic taking of something.

he has adopted

Implies choosing and taking up something as one's own, such as a strategy or idea.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "he has grabbed"?

You can use alternatives like "he has seized", "he has taken hold of", or "he has captured" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "he has grabbed"?

Use "he has grabbed" when you want to emphasize the speed, eagerness, or forcefulness of the action. It's often suitable for describing seizing opportunities or physical actions, but less so in formal or academic contexts.

What's the difference between "he has grabbed" and "he had grabbed"?

"He has grabbed" indicates an action that happened recently and has relevance to the present, while "he had grabbed" refers to an action completed in the past, before another past action. For example: "He has grabbed the opportunity" versus "He had grabbed the opportunity before I could react."

Is "he has grabbed" too informal for business writing?

While not inherently incorrect, "he has grabbed" can sound less formal. In business writing, consider alternatives like "he has secured" or "he has obtained" for a more professional tone.