If you’ve ever stopped mid-sentence wondering whether you should write “there have been” or “there has been,” you’re not alone.
These two phrases look nearly identical, yet they follow strict grammar rules that confuse both new learners and fluent speakers.
In this guide, you’ll learn exactly when to use each one — without guessing, overthinking, or second-guessing yourself every time.
Let’s break it all down in a way that finally sticks.
Understanding the Structure of “There + Has/Have Been”
Before we dig into the details, let’s get one crucial idea out of the way:
In sentences starting with “there,” the word “there” is NOT the real subject.
This surprises most learners because it feels like the subject.
Example:
- There have been many changes.
- There has been a mistake.
But in both sentences, “there” isn’t doing the action. It simply introduces the sentence.
The real subjects are:
- many changes (plural → have been)
- a mistake (singular → has been)
Understanding this one idea makes everything else easier.
Present Perfect Basics: “Has Been” vs. “Have Been”
When you say:
- has been
- have been
you’re using the present perfect tense.
The present perfect tense shows:
- a situation that started in the past
- and still affects the present
- or has relevance to the moment of speaking
Examples:
- She has been excited all day.
- They have been busy lately.
- There has been an accident (and the situation matters right now).
- There have been complaints (and they still matter).
So whenever you use there has been or there have been, you’re describing a past event connected to the present.
Why English Uses the Present Perfect
English uses this tense for three main reasons:
1. To show continuity
Example:
There have been delays since morning.
(Delays started earlier and continue.)
2. To show past experiences
Example:
There have been many attempts to fix the system.
(The attempts happened before now.)
3. To show recent events with present impact
Example:
There has been a robbery.
(The robbery affects the present moment.)
The tense helps you express ongoing relevance, not just past action.
The Real Difference: “There Has Been” vs. “There Have Been”
Here’s the key:
- Use “there has been” → singular noun
- Use “there have been” → plural noun
Remember:
You match the verb to the real subject, not the word “there.”
Examples of there has been (singular):
- There has been a mistake.
- There has been an update.
- There has been a major improvement.
- There has been a sudden change in plans.
Examples of there have been (plural):
- There have been several reports.
- There have been multiple delays.
- There have been unexpected issues.
- There have been requests from clients.
To avoid mistakes, identify the real subject before choosing has or have.
When to Use “There Has Been”
Use there has been when the real subject is singular.
Correct Examples
- There has been one major problem.
- There has been a misunderstanding.
- There has been an improvement in performance.
- There has been a drop in demand recently.
Common Traps
Sometimes a subject looks plural but actually isn’t:
❌ There has been many workers…
(“workers” is plural → wrong)
✔️ There have been many workers…
But:
✔️ There has been a group of workers…
(group = singular even though workers are plural)
When to Use “There Have Been”
Use there have been for plural subjects.
Correct Examples
- There have been two accidents this week.
- There have been many complaints.
- There have been countless challenges during the project.
- There have been new policy changes.
Confusing Situations
Sometimes a prepositional phrase comes between the verb and noun:
Incorrect:
❌ There has been a lot of students in the hall.
(“students” is plural → use have)
Correct:
✔️ There have been a lot of students in the hall.
Correct (singular):
✔️ There has been a lot of noise.
(noise = singular)
Using “Has Been” With Singular Third-Person Subjects
Outside the “there” structure, the rule stays the same:
- He has been…
- She has been…
- It has been…
- A car has been…
- The company has been…
Examples
- She has been very supportive.
- He has been waiting all morning.
- It has been difficult to focus today.
- The company has been growing steadily.
Use has when the subject is singular.
Using “Have Been” With Plural and First-Person Subjects
Plural subjects always use have been:
- We have been…
- They have been…
- My friends have been…
- The results have been…
And first-person:
- I have been…
- You have been…
Examples
- We have been discussing this issue.
- They have been preparing for the event.
- You have been incredibly patient.
- I have been studying English.
Introducing “Had Been”: The Past Perfect Version
Now let’s take it one step deeper.
“Had been” is the past perfect tense.
Use it when something happened before another past event.
Meaning:
- Action A: had been happening
- Action B: another past event cut it off
Example:
There had been several warnings before the accident happened.
More examples:
- There had been misunderstandings before the manager arrived.
- There had been progress until the system crashed.
- There had been heavy rainfall before the flood started.
Unlike has/have, “had” does NOT change with singular or plural.
✔️ There had been a problem.
✔️ There had been many problems.
Comparison Table: Present Perfect vs. Past Perfect
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| There has been | Singular subject, present perfect | There has been a delay. |
| There have been | Plural subject, present perfect | There have been many delays. |
| There had been | Past perfect (before another past event) | There had been issues before the meeting. |
This table alone can solve most confusion for learners.
How Subject–Verb Agreement Actually Works Here
The biggest mistake people make is letting “there” trick them.
Remember:
Ignore “there” and look for the real subject.
Examples:
- There have been problems. (plural → have been)
- There has been an error. (singular → has been)
Let’s practice with tricky examples.
Navigating Compound Subjects
A compound subject means there are two or more items joined by “and.”
Example:
There have been calls and emails about the update.
Two subjects → plural → have been
More examples:
- There have been students and teachers waiting.
- There have been cars and bikes on the road.
Prepositional Phrases That Confuse Learners
Prepositional phrases follow patterns like:
- a lot of
- a group of
- a number of
- a series of
- a set of
These can be tricky because they look plural.
Rule:
Match the verb to the true subject (the noun immediately after “of”).
Examples:
✔️ There have been a lot of people.
(people = plural)
✔️ There has been a series of problems.
(series = singular)
✔️ There have been a number of updates.
(updates = plural)
✔️ There has been a type of error.
(type = singular)
This is an easy area to get wrong, so double-check the noun after “of.”
Identifying the Real Subject in Complicated Sentences
Let’s look at a more complex sentence:
There have been a lot of questions from students about the deadline.
Real subject = questions (plural) → have been
Another:
There has been a significant improvement in the results of students this year.
Real subject = improvement (singular) → has been
Tip:
Find the first noun after “been,” and that’s usually your subject.
Expanding the Verb Phrase With Adverbs
You can place adverbs between has/have and been, or after been.
Correct structures:
- There has recently been…
- There have always been…
- There has been consistently…
- There have been frequently…
Examples:
- There has recently been a major update.
- There have always been challenges in business.
- There has been consistently good feedback.
- There have been frequently asked questions about pricing.
Adverbs make your sentences sound more natural and specific.
Practical Examples: Present Perfect & Past Perfect
Present Perfect (“Has Been” / “Have Been”)
- There have been unusual weather changes this month.
- There has been a misunderstanding between the teams.
- There have been multiple requests for the report.
- There has been an increase in market prices recently.
Past Perfect (“Had Been”)
- There had been tension before the announcement.
- There had been mistakes in earlier versions.
- There had been several warnings before the incident.
- There had been confusion before the meeting started.
Quick-Reference Table (Bookmark This)
| Subject | Correct Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular noun | There has been | There has been a problem. |
| Plural noun | There have been | There have been problems. |
| Before another past event | There had been | There had been delays earlier. |
| First person | I/We have been | We have been working hard. |
| Third person singular | He/She/It has been | She has been helpful. |
Keep this as a mini cheat-sheet.
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Mistake 1: Using “has been” with plural subjects
Incorrect:
There has been many issues.
Correct:
✔️ There have been many issues.
Mistake 2: Ignoring the real subject after “there”
Incorrect:
There have been a big problem.
(“problem” is singular)
Correct:
✔️ There has been a big problem.
Mistake 3: Getting confused by long noun phrases
Incorrect:
There has been reports coming in from all sides.
Correct:
✔️ There have been reports coming in from all sides.
Mistake 4: Mixing present perfect and past perfect
Incorrect:
There have been issues before the meeting started.
Correct:
✔️ There had been issues before the meeting started.
Mistake 5: Not identifying compound subjects
Incorrect:
There has been noise and arguments next door.
Correct:
✔️ There have been noise and arguments next door.
Case Studies: Real-Life Usage
Case Study 1: Workplace Communication
A project manager wrote:
“There has been several complaints about the new system.”
Employees misunderstood, thinking only one complaint existed.
Corrected version:
✔️ There have been several complaints about the new system.
This small change clarified the seriousness of the issue.
Case Study 2: Customer Support Replies
Incorrect support email:
“There has been many customers facing this issue.”
Correct version:
✔️ There have been many customers facing this issue.
This correction boosted trust and professionalism.
Case Study 3: Academic Report
Incorrect:
“There has been studies proving this theory.”
Correct:
✔️ There have been studies proving this theory.
The change improved the credibility of the report.
FAQs
When should I use “there have been”?
Use it when your subject is plural.
Example: There have been many requests.
When do I use “there has been”?
Use it when your subject is singular.
Example: There has been an error.
What’s the biggest difference between “have been” and “has been”?
Have been = plural subjects and “I/you.”
Has been = singular subjects.
Can I use “has been” with plural subjects?
No.
Plural subjects always use have been unless the true subject is singular (like “a group of workers”).
Why does subject–verb agreement matter here?
Because “there” hides the real subject. The verb must match the actual noun that follows.
Conclusion
Choosing between “there have been” and “there has been” gets easier once you stop looking at “there” and start focusing on the real subject. Whether you’re writing emails, reports, essays, or customer responses, this simple rule keeps your writing clear and correct.
- Singular → there has been
- Plural → there have been
- Earlier past events → there had been
When in doubt, find the noun after the verb. That noun always tells you the correct form.
Master this, and you’ll never hesitate over these phrases again.
Aiden Brooks is an educational writer dedicated to simplifying grammar for learners of all levels. He creates clear, practical explanations that help students read, write, and understand English with confidence.
