Better There Have Been vs. Has Been: Grammar Guide

If you’ve ever paused mid-sentence wondering whether to write “there have been many changes” or “there has been many changes,” you’re not alone. This mix-up is one of the most common subject-verb agreement errors in English, and it trips up even experienced writers.

The good news? Once you understand one simple rule, you’ll never second-guess yourself again. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about “has been,” “have been,” and “had been” — with clear examples, comparison tables, and practice exercises.

Understanding ‘Has Been’ and ‘Have Been’

“Has been” and “have been” are both present perfect tense forms of the verb “to be.” They describe actions or states that started in the past and either continue into the present or have just been completed with present relevance.

The core difference comes down to subject-verb agreement:

Has been pairs with singular subjects (he, she, it, or a singular noun)
Have been pairs with plural subjects (we, you, they, or a plural noun) and with “I”

In sentences that begin with “there,” the word “there” is not the real subject — it’s a placeholder called a “dummy subject.” The actual subject is the noun that comes after “been” (or after the following verb), and that’s what determines whether you use “has” or “have.”

Why the Present Perfect Tense Matters

The present perfect tense connects the past to the present. It’s used when:

An action started in the past and is still happening now
An action just finished and its result matters right now
Something happened at an unspecified time before now

This is different from the simple past tense, which describes a completed action with no connection to the present. Compare:

Simple past: There was an accident yesterday.
Present perfect: There have been several accidents this month.

The present perfect version implies ongoing relevance — the accidents are part of a pattern that still concerns us today.

Rules for Using ‘Has Been’

Use “has been” when the noun following it is:

A singular countable noun (a change, a problem, an issue)
An uncountable noun (research, progress, information, traffic)
A third-person singular pronoun (he, she, it)

Examples:

There has been a delay in the shipment.
There has been significant progress on the project.
She has been working here since 2019.
It has been raining all afternoon.

Rules for Using ‘Have Been’

Use “have been” when the noun following it is:

A plural countable noun (changes, problems, issues)
The pronoun “I”
The pronouns we, you, they

Examples:

There have been many changes to the schedule.
There have been three complaints this week.
I have been studying English for two years.
They have been waiting outside since noon.

Using ‘Had Been’ in Past Perfect Tense

While “has been” and “have been” belong to the present perfect tense, “had been” is the past perfect form of “to be.” It’s used regardless of whether the subject is singular or plural, and it describes an action completed before another point in the past.

Examples:

There had been no complaints before the incident occurred.
The store had been closed for three years before it reopened.
The students had been studying when the fire alarm rang.

The key distinction is your reference point in time:

Tense	Reference Point	Example
Present perfect	Now (the present)	There has been a change in policy.
Past perfect	A specific moment in the past	There had been a change before the new manager arrived.

There Have Been vs Has Been Sentences

Seeing the two forms side by side makes the rule easier to internalize.

Sentence with “Has Been”	Sentence with “Have Been”
There has been a mistake in the report.	There have been mistakes in the report.
There has been an increase in sales.	There have been increases across all departments.
There has been talk of layoffs.	There have been rumors of layoffs.
There has been one complaint so far.	There have been several complaints so far.

Advanced Subject-Verb Agreement

Some sentences are trickier because of compound or collective subjects. Here’s how to handle the exceptions:

Collective nouns (team, group, committee) usually take “has been” when treated as a single unit: There has been a group of protesters outside.
Compound subjects joined by “and” take “have been”: There have been a manager and an assistant hired this week.
“One of the…” constructions take “has been” because the true subject is “one,” which is singular: There has been one of the interns missing all day.
Nearest-noun confusion: Don’t let a plural noun sitting close to the verb trick you into the wrong agreement. Always trace back to the true grammatical subject, not just the closest word.

Expanding Verb Phrases with Adverbs

Adverbs are often inserted between “has/have” and “been” to add nuance without breaking the grammar rule. This doesn’t change which form you use — it just adds detail.

Common patterns:

There has always been a strong bond between them.
There have recently been several updates to the app.
There has never been a better time to invest.
There have already been three attempts to fix it.

Notice that the subject-verb agreement rule stays exactly the same, no matter what adverb you insert.

There Have Been vs Has Been Grammar

At a grammatical level, the choice hinges on number agreement, not tense or formality. Both phrases are equally correct — and equally common in formal writing, journalism, and everyday conversation. Neither is more “proper” than the other; they simply serve different subjects.

A quick mental trick: ignore the word “there” entirely, and ask yourself whether the noun after “been” is singular or plural. If it helps, mentally rearrange the sentence:

“There has been a problem” → “A problem has been [present].”
“There have been problems” → “Problems have been [present].”

Practical Usage in Sentences

These phrases show up constantly in real-world writing — news reports, business emails, academic essays, and casual speech.

News reporting: There have been growing concerns about inflation this quarter.
Business writing: There has been a noticeable improvement in customer satisfaction scores.
Academic writing: There have been numerous studies examining this phenomenon.
Everyday conversation: There’s been a lot going on lately. (Note: “there’s” is the contraction of “there has,” used only with singular/uncountable subjects.)

There Have Been or Has Been Examples

Here’s a broader set of examples to reinforce the pattern:

There has been no response from the client. (singular/uncountable — “response”)
There have been dozens of responses. (plural — “responses”)
There has been confusion about the deadline. (uncountable — “confusion”)
There have been misunderstandings between the teams. (plural — “misunderstandings”)
There has been a shift in public opinion. (singular — “shift”)
There have been shifts in multiple markets. (plural — “shifts”)

Quick Reference Guide

If the subject is…	Use	Example
Singular noun	has been	There has been an error.
Uncountable noun	has been	There has been progress.
He / She / It	has been	He has been sick.
Plural noun	have been	There have been errors.
I	have been	I have been sick.
We / You / They	have been	They have been sick.
Any subject (past reference)	had been	There had been errors before the audit.

There Have Been vs Has Been Exercises

Test yourself. Choose “has been” or “have been” for each sentence:

There ___ a lot of rain this week.
There ___ three accidents on this road this year.
There ___ an update to the software.
There ___ many complaints about the noise.
There ___ progress on the negotiations.

Answers: 1. has been (uncountable) 2. have been (plural) 3. has been (singular) 4. have been (plural) 5. has been (uncountable)

FAQs

Q:Which is right, has been or have been?

Both are correct — the right one depends on the subject. Use “has been” for singular or uncountable subjects, and “have been” for plural subjects or “I.”

Q:When should I use has been?

Use “has been” with singular nouns, uncountable nouns, and the pronouns he, she, or it.

Q:What is the difference between “has been” and “have been”?

“Has been” agrees with singular/uncountable subjects, while “have been” agrees with plural subjects and “I.” Both are present perfect forms of “to be.”

Q:What verb tense is have been?

“Have been” is the present perfect tense, used to describe actions or states connecting the past to the present.

Q:Is “I have been correct” grammar?

Yes, “I have been correct” is grammatically correct because “I” always pairs with “have,” not “has.”

Conclusion

The choice between “there have been” and “there has been” isn’t about formality, region, or personal preference — it’s purely about subject-verb agreement. Find the real subject after “been,” check whether it’s singular or plural, and choose “has” or “have” accordingly. Master this one rule, and you’ll write with confidence every time these phrases come up.