we have not

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we have not" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is the present perfect tense of "not have," and is commonly used to negate or deny something that has happened or been done in the past. Example: "We have not finished the project yet, but we are making good progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Arts

Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No, we have not.

The New York Times

We have not.

The New York Times

We have not forgotten.

The New York Times

We have not delivered.

The New York Times

And we have not been.

The New York Times

We have not," he said.

Independent

We have not lacked effort.

The New York Times - Sports

"We have not stopped investigating.

The New York Times - Sports

"We have not given in.

Independent

We have not lacked enthusiasm.

The New York Times - Sports

We have not peaked".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "we have not", ensure the context clearly indicates what action or state is being negated. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "we have not" with time expressions that require a simple past tense. For instance, instead of "we have not saw it yesterday", use "we did not see it yesterday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we have not" primarily functions as a negative construction in the present perfect tense. As demonstrated by Ludwig's examples, it indicates that an action has not been completed or a state has not existed up to the present moment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sports

16%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

8%

Arts

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we have not" serves as a versatile tool for expressing negation in the present perfect tense across a wide array of contexts. As verified by Ludwig, its grammatical correctness and frequent usage make it a staple in both formal and informal communication. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to consider the intended time frame and ensure consistency with the rest of the sentence. The prevalence of "we have not" in reputable sources such as The New York Times and BBC underscores its reliability and acceptance in standard English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we haven't

Contraction of "we have not", offering a more informal alternative.

we've not

A less common contraction of "we have not".

we still have not

Emphasizes that something has not happened despite the passage of time.

we haven't yet

Indicates something has not happened up to the present time.

we did not

Expresses a past action that did not occur.

we are yet to

Indicates an action that remains to be done.

it is not the case that we have

A more formal and emphatic way of denying something.

we've never

Indicates that something has never happened to the subject.

we do not have

Indicates a lack of possession or experience.

we are not

A simple negation of a state or characteristic.

FAQs

How do I use "we have not" in a sentence?

Use "we have not" to negate actions completed by a group in the past. For example, "we have not yet finalized the details of the agreement".

What is a more informal way to say "we have not"?

The contraction "we haven't" is a more casual and commonly used alternative to "we have not".

Which is correct, "we have not seen" or "we didn't see"?

"We have not seen" implies the action has not occurred up to the present, whereas "we didn't see" refers to a specific time in the past.

What's the difference between "we have not" and "we do not have"?

"We have not" indicates the non-completion of an action, while "we do not have" indicates a lack of possession or attribute.