"have learned" vs "have been learning"

Question

"have learned" vs "have been learning"

Both "have learned" and "have been learning" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Have learned" is used to indicate that the learning process is complete, while "have been learning" is used to show an ongoing or continuous action of learning.

Last Updated: March 17, 2024

Use "have learned" when you want to express that you have acquired knowledge or skills in the past.

Examples:

I have learned a lot from my mistakes.
She has learned to play the piano.
They have learned about different cultures.
He has learned how to cook.
We have learned the importance of teamwork.

Alternatives:

have acquired knowledge
have gained expertise
have mastered a skill
have picked up new information
have absorbed learning

Use "have been learning" when you want to emphasize that the learning process is still in progress or has been happening over a period of time.

Examples:

I have been learning Spanish for two years.
She has been learning about art history.
They have been learning new techniques in the workshop.
He has been learning to code online.
We have been learning from our experiences.

Alternatives:

have been acquiring knowledge
have been gaining expertise
have been mastering a skill
have been picking up new information
have been absorbing learning

Answer 1

have learned

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that the learning process is complete.

Answer 2

have been learning

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate an ongoing or continuous action of learning.

"have learned" vs "have been learning"

have learned

have been learning

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