things have developed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "things have developed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that a situation or circumstances have changed or progressed over time. Example: "Since our last meeting, things have developed in a way that we didn't anticipate."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

So how would things have developed if she had lived?

The Guardian - Opinion

"Right now, I'm a little worried about the way things have developed".

The New York Times

Impressively, things have developed so they're now 20% owned by supporters, who are the largest shareholder.

The Guardian - Sport

"But things have developed so quickly, and we are losing touch with our traditions".

The New Yorker

"I've been very fortunate with my stupidity, as things have developed in my career".

The New York Times - Books

Since then, Mr. Baczkowski said, "things have developed quickly, but not quickly enough for us".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

Our interest in such things has developed in my lifetime, so I find it relevant.

The Guardian - Books

Just for the sake of argument, let's say things had developed pretty much as they did, with Tamerlan, the elder brother, being killed, and Dzhokhar, the younger brother, being wounded and captured.

The New Yorker

We didn't stay long enough in Harare for me to take a careful measure of how things had developed since the war had ended and the name of the city had been Africanized.

Forbes

Standing on the spot where just 24 hours earlier he had been trying to direct the crowd, one of the protest leaders, Haris Ibrahim, reflected on the way things had developed.

BBC

Since the first iteration of Do They Know It's Christmas came out in the 80s, the celeb charity thing has developed a slight whiff about it.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using "situations have evolved" or other alternatives for a more formal or nuanced tone, depending on your audience and purpose.

Common error

Avoid using "things have developed" when more specific terminology would provide clarity. For instance, instead of saying "things have developed in the market", specify "market trends have developed" or "consumer preferences have developed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "things have developed" functions as an intransitive verb phrase indicating a change or progression over time. This usage is supported by Ludwig AI, which confirms its grammatical correctness. Examples from Ludwig show the phrase in various contexts, indicating the evolving state of affairs.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

12%

Science

12%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "things have developed" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to denote that situations or processes have undergone change or progression over time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely accepted and versatile, appearing frequently in news, academic, and scientific contexts. While alternatives like "situations have evolved" or "circumstances have shifted" offer nuanced variations, the key is to ensure clarity and specificity in describing what has developed. By avoiding vague references and choosing appropriate alternatives, writers can effectively communicate the evolution of events or conditions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

situations have evolved

This alternative emphasizes the gradual and natural change of circumstances.

circumstances have shifted

This alternative highlights a notable alteration in the conditions or situation.

events have unfolded

This suggests a revealing or progressive emergence of occurrences.

matters have progressed

This indicates advancement or forward movement in the state of affairs.

the situation has changed

This provides a straightforward declaration of an alteration in the current state.

developments have occurred

This emphasizes that new events or stages have taken place.

the story has unfolded

This suggests a narrative progression, often revealing new details.

progress has been made

This emphasizes the positive advancements that have occurred.

the landscape has transformed

This emphasizes a significant and comprehensive change in the overall environment.

things have taken shape

This highlights a clearer and more defined form that something has achieved.

FAQs

How can I use "things have developed" in a sentence?

You can use "things have developed" to indicate that a situation or circumstance has changed or progressed over time. For example, "Since our last meeting, "things have developed" in a way that we didn't anticipate".

What can I say instead of "things have developed"?

You can use alternatives like "situations have evolved", "circumstances have shifted", or "events have unfolded" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "things have developed" or "things had developed"?

Both "things have developed" and "things had developed" are grammatically correct, but they convey different meanings. "Things have developed" indicates a situation that has changed up to the present, while "things had developed" refers to a situation that changed before a specific point in the past.

What's the difference between "things have developed" and "things are developing"?

"Things have developed" implies a completed process of change, whereas "things are developing" indicates an ongoing process. For example, "Things have developed significantly since last year" suggests a completed change, while "things are developing rapidly" suggests change is still in progress.