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He has been killed vs he was killed

Both phrases are correct, but 'He has been killed' is in the present perfect tense, indicating that the action of being killed has a connection to the present, and 'He was killed' is in the simple past tense, indicating that the action of being killed happened at a specific point in the past.
Michele A. profile picture

Explained by Michele A.
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: January 15, 2025 • 7283 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English, especially in situations where the action of being killed has a connection to the present.

"He has been killed"

This phrase is in the present perfect tense, indicating that the action of being killed has happened at an unspecified time before now. It is often used when the focus is on the present result of the action.

Examples:

  • He has been killed in a car accident.
  • The criminal has been killed by the police.
  • She has been killed in a tragic accident.
  • The soldier has been killed in combat.
  • The victim has been killed by a gunshot.
  • Sep 2, 2015 ... "He has been killed"? I was watching the movie "The Terminal" yesterday and I listen to this phrase: "We're also hearing that the Vice ...
  • Dec 16, 2023 ... Strahd has not been killed before. Where did you read that he has been killed??
  • Apr 21, 2013 ... Therefore, it seems that present perfect tense is not the right tense. Another example to show the opposite logic is "he has been killed", in ...
  • Nov 1, 2020 ... 'He has been killed for many years' is wrong because it suggests that the killing has been happening over many years. But, of course, that cannot be the case.
  • Oct 5, 2024 ... Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar has been silent for months - now some Israelis believe he has been killed. The death of Hamas's leader could open ...
  • Apr 13, 2022 ... He has been killed. [meaning that someone killed him]; He has died. / He is dead; He has been dead for 3 years. / He has been dead since 2021 ...
  • May 16, 2017 ...He has been killed for many years” sounds like he's being repeatedly killed over and over. The word “has” is used for the present tense and ...
  • Aug 8, 2004 ... What is spawn time of Smith Rondo after he has been killed? ... thought it was 24 hours - i could be wrong. Comment.

Alternatives:

  • He was killed
  • He got killed
  • He has died
  • He has passed away
  • He has been murdered

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English, especially in situations where the action of being killed is viewed as a completed event in the past.

"he was killed"

This phrase is in the simple past tense, indicating that the action of being killed happened at a specific point in the past. It is often used when narrating past events or reporting on historical incidents.

Examples:

  • He was killed in the war.
  • The king was killed by his own guards.
  • The victim was killed in a brutal attack.
  • The suspect was killed in a shootout.
  • The animal was killed for its fur.
  • Nov 6, 2023 ... Is the phrase “He was killed” more grammatically correct than “He got killed”? Or maybe the second one is US English and the first one British English?
  • May 24, 2019 ... My Best Friend and I Did Everything Together — Until He Was Killed in Afghanistan. Share full article. 170. Patrick Hawkins (left) and Luke ...
  • Sep 2, 2021 ... How old was Jason Todd when he was killed by the Joker? Discussion. let's use as an example the movie "Batman under the red hood", how old ...
  • "Who is dead in the White House?" I demanded of one of the soldiers, "The President," was his answer; "he was killed by an assassin." However, Lincoln ...
  • Aug 17, 2024 ... The real reason he was killed was because Laurel's dad thought she was still chasing after Frank (when her, Annalise, and Bonnie were looking for him after he ...
  • Sep 21, 2024 ... PVT Adrian Garcia assigned to the 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division, during WWII. He was killed in Nuremberg, 18 or 19 April 1945.
  • Dec 3, 2020 ... How is Sator alive if he was killed by Kat two week ago??? Here is my question how is the protagonist introduced to Sator by Kat, if at that ...
  • Jul 31, 2023 ... You really need to spell the situation out. 'He was killed' means just what it says. 'He killed' is usually missing the object of the sentence ...
  • 15 hours ago ... He was killed when Jacket's sentence was announced ... Actually, I thought of many things, for example, killed by some of Jacket's angry fans ...
  • Nov 3, 2022 ... Remembering Zau Three Years After He was Killed in Syria. 3 November 2022. Syria. Video update from Dave and FBR. Dear friends,. Thank you for ...

Alternatives:

  • He has been killed
  • He got killed
  • He was murdered
  • He died
  • He passed away

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