we have been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'we have been' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that has happened or been true in the past. For example, "We have been friends for 10 years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We have been nowhere.

The New York Times

"We have been diverse".

The New York Times

We have been warned.

The Guardian - Film

We have been punished.

The New York Times - Magazine

We have been prisoners".

Independent

"We have been humiliated.

Independent

We have been ignored.

The Guardian - Opinion

"We have been so solid.

Independent

How could we have been?

Independent

How mistaken we have been.

Independent

We have been successively disappointed".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we have been" to describe actions or states that started in the past and continue to have relevance in the present.

Common error

Avoid using "we have been" when referring to a single, completed action in the past. Use the simple past tense instead. For example, say "We went to the store yesterday" instead of "We have been to the store yesterday" if the action is finished and has no continuing relevance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we have been" functions as a present perfect continuous construction, indicating actions or states that began in the past and continue into the present, or have present relevance. Ludwig shows numerous examples of its versatile usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we have been" is a versatile phrase used to describe actions or states that started in the past and have continued into the present or have present relevance. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct, and Ludwig provides a wide array of examples demonstrating its use in news, business, and general contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that it accurately reflects the ongoing or relevant nature of the past action or state.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we've been

Short form for "we have been".

we were

Uses the simple past tense of 'to be' to indicate a state in the past.

we previously were

Indicates a prior state or condition that is no longer the case.

we had been

Uses the past perfect tense to indicate an action completed before another point in the past.

we've experienced

Highlights the experiences the group has undergone.

historically, we were

Emphasizes a past state or condition from a historical perspective.

we went through

Focuses on the process or challenges the group has faced.

our experience includes

Focuses on the accumulated experiences of the group.

it has been our practice

Highlights something that the speaker's group repeatedly did.

we are

Uses the present tense of 'to be' to describe the current state.

FAQs

How is "we have been" used in a sentence?

"We have been" is used to describe experiences or states that started in the past and continue to the present or have a lasting impact. For example, "We have been working on this project for months" indicates an ongoing effort.

What are some alternatives to "we have been"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "we were" to indicate a past state, or "we experienced" to emphasize a shared experience.

Which is correct, "we have been" or "we was"?

"We have been" is grammatically correct. "We was" is incorrect in standard English. Use "we were" instead if referring to a past state in the simple past tense.

What is the difference between "we have been" and "we had been"?

"We have been" connects the past to the present, while "we had been" refers to a past action completed before another point in the past. For example, "We had been waiting for hours when the bus finally arrived" indicates the waiting ended before the arrival.