Have Strived vs. Have Striven – Which is Correct?
Both “have strived” and “have striven” are correct forms of the verb strive. “Have striven” is the traditional irregular past participle and often sounds formal, while “have strived” is increasingly common and entirely acceptable. Choose “have striven” for elevated prose or “have strived” for straightforward modern writing; remain consistent throughout.
Have Strived or Have Striven – Which is Correct?
Both have strived and have striven are grammatically correct. They are past-perfect or present-perfect verb phrases formed with have and the past participle of strive.
Have striven is the traditional irregular form. It tends to sound more formal, literary, or elevated. Have strived is the regular form, and it has become increasingly common in contemporary English, especially in business, academic, and everyday writing. Neither form is inherently wrong.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the pattern of other irregular verbs as a memory aid: drive, drove, driven and strive, strove, striven. Therefore, have striven follows the older irregular pattern. However, remember that have strived is also accepted because English speakers increasingly treat strive like a regular verb: strive, strived, strived.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Have strived | Verb phrase | Have made a determined effort | The employees have strived to improve customer service. |
| Have striven | Verb phrase | Have made a determined effort | The researchers have striven to explain the results clearly. |
How to Use Have Strived
Have strived is the present-perfect form of strive. Use it when describing an effort that began in the past and remains relevant to the present, or when discussing repeated efforts over a period of time. This form is common in modern American English and sounds natural in casual, professional, and academic contexts.
The phrase usually appears with to followed by an infinitive: have strived to improve, have strived to succeed, or have strived to understand.
Example 1: Our organization has strived to make its services more accessible.
Example 2: The students have strived to meet the demanding standards of the program.
Example 3: Over the past decade, the company has strived to reduce its environmental impact.
What are the Different Forms of Have Strived?
Have strived contains the auxiliary verb have and the regular past participle strived. The main forms of strive are strive in the present tense, strived or strove in the past tense, and strived or striven as the past participle.
The distinction becomes clearer when compared with Strive vs. Strove, which contrasts present and past forms.
| Verb Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Base form: strive | We strive to provide accurate information. |
| Present participle: striving | They are striving for excellence. |
| Past tense: strived or strove | She strived to improve or She strove to improve. |
| Past participle: strived or striven | They have strived or They have striven. |
Etymology of the Word Strived
Strive comes from Middle English and Anglo-French forms related to conflict, effort, and competition. Its older forms developed along an irregular Germanic pattern, which accounts for strove and striven. The regular forms strived and have strived became established through normal changes in English verb usage.
How to Use Have Striven
Have striven is the traditional irregular past participle of strive. It means “have made a determined effort” or “have tried very hard.” The form is fully grammatical in American English, but it often has a more formal, literary, or serious tone than have strived.
Use have striven in formal reports, speeches, historical writing, personal statements, and polished prose. It commonly appears in the phrase have striven to followed by an infinitive.
Example 1: The institution has striven to preserve its longstanding traditions.
Example 2: Generations of scientists have striven to find a reliable treatment.
Example 3: We have striven to act with fairness throughout the negotiation.
What are the Different Forms of Have Striven?
Have striven consists of the auxiliary verb have and the irregular past participle striven. The related past-tense form is traditionally strove, although strived is also used. The present participle is striving.
| Verb Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Base form: strive | They strive to serve the community. |
| Present participle: striving | The team is striving for better results. |
| Past tense: strove or strived | He strove to succeed or He strived to succeed. |
| Past participle: striven or strived | They have striven or They have strived. |
Etymology of the Word Striven
Striven developed as the traditional past participle of strive. Its structure resembles other older irregular forms, including drive, driven and write, written. Although regularized forms such as strived are now widely accepted, striven remains an important standard form.
Related Concepts
Understanding perfect tenses and irregular verbs makes the difference between have strived and have striven easier to recognize.
- Past participles: A past participle combines with auxiliary verbs such as have, has, or had to form perfect tenses. Both strived and striven can function as the past participle of strive.
- Irregular verbs: Irregular verbs do not always form their past tense or past participle by simply adding -ed. Striven is the traditional irregular participle, while strived is the regularized alternative.
- Present perfect tense: The present perfect uses has or have plus a past participle, as in has striven or have strived.
- Verb register: Register describes how formal or informal a word sounds. Have striven generally has a more formal register than have strived.
Examples from Media and Literature
Both forms appear in polished writing, although have striven is especially common in formal, literary, and ceremonial contexts.
- News writing: A report about public institutions might state, “Officials have strived to restore public confidence after the disruption.”
- Business communication: An annual report may say, “We have strived to deliver reliable products and responsive service.”
- Historical writing: A biography might explain, “Throughout her career, she has striven to expand access to education.”
- Literary narration: A novel may use the elevated wording, “They have striven for peace despite years of hardship.”
- Personal statements: An applicant might write, “I have strived to contribute positively to every community I have joined.”
Have Strived Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Have tried | Have made an attempt to do something |
| Have attempted | Have undertaken an effort to achieve a result |
| Have worked | Have made sustained effort toward a goal |
| Have labored | Have worked with considerable effort |
| Have endeavored | Have made a serious or determined effort |
Have Striven Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Have endeavored | Have made a determined effort, usually in formal language |
| Have sought | Have tried to obtain, achieve, or accomplish something |
| Have pursued | Have continued actively toward a goal |
| Have labored | Have worked hard, often over an extended period |
| Have struggled | Have worked hard despite difficulty or obstacles |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “have strived” grammatically correct?
Yes. Have strived is a grammatically correct and widely accepted form of the verb strive. It is the regular past participle and is common in modern English.
Question 2: Is “have striven” better than “have strived”?
Neither form is universally better. Have striven is more traditional and often sounds formal, while have strived sounds more conversational and contemporary. Choose the form that suits your audience and tone.
Question 3: Should I write “have strived” or “have striven” in formal writing?
Both are suitable for formal writing, but have striven may sound more polished or literary. Have strived is also appropriate, particularly when clarity and straightforward modern usage are priorities.
Conclusion
Have strived and have striven are both correct. Use have striven for a traditional or elevated tone, and use have strived for a natural, modern tone. Pro Tip: In professional writing, consistency and a clear understanding of your audience matter more than choosing one accepted form over the other.
