never have been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "never have been" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something has not occurred at any point in the past up to the present moment. Example: "I have never have been to Paris, despite my desire to visit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Never have been.

The New York Times

You never have been.

The New York Times - Tech

I never have been.

Independent

"We never have been.

The Guardian - Books

"There never have been.

The New York Times - Health

The crime might never have been solved.

The New York Times

"He should never have been appointed.

Independent

The K.H.L.'s ambitions never have been.

The New York Times - Sports

Greece should never have been let in.

The Economist

There may never have been one.

The New York Times - Books

That prison should never have been opened.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "never have been" to clearly indicate that something has not occurred at any point in the past up to the present moment. It is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "never have been" when a simple past tense is more appropriate. For example, instead of "I never have been there yesterday", say "I was never there yesterday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "never have been" functions as a negative perfective construction. It is used to indicate that an action or state has not occurred at any point up to the present. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "never have been" is a common and grammatically correct construction used to express the absence of a past experience or state. Ludwig AI confirms its accuracy and usability. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various forms of communication. While alternatives such as "have not ever been" exist, "never have been" effectively conveys the intended meaning. To ensure correct usage, avoid using it in contexts requiring a simple past tense, and be mindful of the standard "have never been" word order for general statements. With numerous examples from authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, it is apparent that this phrase is widely accepted and understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have not ever been

Uses a more emphatic "ever" to highlight the absence of past occurrence.

have not at any time been

Emphasizes the continuous absence over any period.

have not previously been

Focuses on the lack of prior existence or experience.

have not once been

Highlights the absence of even a single occurrence.

have not yet been

Suggests a possibility in the future but absence until now.

have not in the past been

Explicitly references the non-existence in past times.

did not ever exist

Changes the tense and structure to emphasize past non-existence.

there has not been

Shifts the focus to the existence of something rather than personal experience.

hasn't existed until now

Highlights the lack of existence up to the present moment.

not ever did I

Uses a more emphatic and slightly archaic tone to express the complete absence of past experience.

FAQs

How to use "never have been" in a sentence?

Use "never have been" to express that something has not happened before. For instance, "I "never have been" to Japan". It combines with a past participle.

What can I say instead of "never have been"?

You can use alternatives such as "have not ever been", "have not previously been", or "have not at any time been" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "never have been" or "have never been"?

"Have never been" is the standard and more common word order. "Never have been" is also correct, particularly for emphasis or in questions, but is less frequently used.

What's the difference between "never have been" and "was never"?

"Never have been" refers to an experience that hasn't occurred in one's life up to the present. "Was never" refers to a specific instance or state in the past. For example, "I "never have been" to Rome" versus "I was never happy there".