what have

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what have" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in questions or statements that inquire about past actions or experiences. Example: "What have you done today?" Alternative expressions include "what have you accomplished" and "what have you experienced."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What have we got?

The New York Times

What have you achieved?' ".

The New York Times

What have they yielded?

The New Yorker

What have they gained?

Independent

What have I done?

The New York Times - Sports

What have I gained?

The New Yorker

What have they got?

The New York Times

What have I found?

The New Yorker

What have we become?

The New York Times

What have they found?

Independent

What have you won?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "what have" to inquire about experiences, accomplishments, or changes that have occurred up to the present moment. For example: "What have you learned from this experience?"

Common error

Avoid using "what have" when referring to a specific point in the past. Use "what did" instead. For example, instead of "What have you done yesterday?" say "What did you do yesterday?"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what have" primarily functions as an interrogative phrase, initiating questions about actions, experiences, or states that have occurred up to the present. Ludwig shows numerous examples where it begins questions seeking information or reflection.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what have" is a versatile interrogative phrase used to inquire about past actions, experiences, and states. Ludwig AI confirms that it's grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in news and media contexts. It serves to elicit information, provoke reflection, or express reactions. When using "what have", ensure that the tense aligns with the intended meaning—referring to actions completed up to the present, as opposed to specific past events. The examples in Ludwig demonstrate its common usage and broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what have you done

This alternative specifically asks about actions the subject has completed.

what did you

This alternative directly asks about a past action, specifying the subject as "you".

what has been

This phrase inquires about a state or condition that exists as a result of a past action or event.

what were you

This alternative seeks information about a past state or activity of the subject "you".

what are you

This phrase inquires about current actions or states.

what is the outcome of

This phrase asks about the final result or effect of something.

what will you

This alternative seeks information about future actions.

what's the effect of

This asks about the influence or impact of something on something else.

what results from

This inquires about the consequences or outcomes of something.

what do you

This alternative is a more general way to ask about habits, opinions, or actions.

FAQs

How do I use "what have" in a sentence?

Use "what have" to ask about experiences or actions completed up to the present. For example, "What have you been working on lately?" or "What have we learned from this project?"

What's a more formal way to phrase a question using "what have"?

In formal settings, you might use a more elaborate structure while retaining the core meaning. For instance, instead of "What have you achieved?", consider "What accomplishments "have you attained"?" or "To what extent "have you progressed"?"

What's the difference between "what have you done" and "what did you do"?

"What "have you done"" refers to actions completed in a time frame leading up to now, implying relevance to the present. "What "did you do"" asks about a specific event in the past, without necessarily linking it to the present.

What are some common phrases that start with "what have"?

Common phrases include "What have you done?", "What have we learned?", "What have they said?", and "What have I become?". These questions seek information about past actions, experiences, or transformations.