Should you say “there have been” or “there has been”?
Both expressions are correct, but the right choice depends on whether the noun that follows is plural or singular.
Use “there has been” with a singular noun or an uncountable noun, and “there have been” with a plural noun. For example, “There has been a problem” is correct, while “There have been several problems” is also correct.
These expressions are commonly used to talk about events, situations, changes, and experiences that have occurred in the past and are relevant to the present.
However, many English learners confuse them because both begin with “there” and use the present perfect tense.
In this guide, you will learn the grammar rules, see practical examples, compare both expressions, and discover simple ways to avoid common mistakes.
Quick Answer: There Have Been or There Has Been?
Use “there has been” with a singular countable noun or an uncountable noun. Use “there have been” with a plural noun. For example, “There has been a delay” and “There has been some progress” are correct. When referring to multiple events or things, say “There have been delays” or “There have been several changes.” The noun after the expression helps you choose the correct verb.
Why Do People Confuse “There Have Been” and “There Has Been”?
People often confuse these expressions because both are used to describe something that has happened or existed. They also share the same basic grammatical structure: there + have/has + been.
The main difference is subject-verb agreement. In these sentences, “there” introduces the existence or occurrence of something. The noun that follows determines whether you need has or have.
Compare these examples:
- There has been a mistake.
- There have been several mistakes.
In the first sentence, a mistake is singular, so we use has been. In the second sentence, several mistakes is plural, so we use have been.
The rule becomes easier when you focus on the noun rather than the word “there.”
First Word: There Has Been
What Does “There Has Been” Mean?
“There has been” is used to say that something has happened, existed, or occurred at some point before now, often with a connection to the present.
It is commonly used with singular countable nouns and uncountable nouns.
Structure:
There + has + been + singular or uncountable noun
Examples:
- There has been a problem.
- There has been an accident.
- There has been some progress.
- There has been a change in the schedule.
In each example, the noun is singular or uncountable.
When Should You Use “There Has Been”?
Use “there has been” in these situations.
1. With singular countable nouns
- There has been a delay.
- There has been an improvement.
- There has been an unexpected visitor.
2. With uncountable nouns
- There has been some rain.
- There has been considerable progress.
- There has been a lot of confusion.
3. When describing a recent event
- There has been an update to the website.
- There has been a change in the meeting time.
4. When describing a situation that continues to matter now
- There has been a significant increase in prices.
- There has been a misunderstanding between the two teams.
The present perfect tense connects a past event or situation to the present. The exact time may be unknown, unstated, or less important than the result.
Second Word: There Have Been
What Does “There Have Been” Mean?
“There have been” is used to describe multiple events, things, or situations that have occurred or existed before now.
It is the plural form of “there has been.”
Structure:
There + have + been + plural noun
Examples:
- There have been several problems.
- There have been many changes.
- There have been three meetings this week.
- There have been numerous complaints.
In these examples, the nouns are plural, so have is the correct verb.
When Should You Use “There Have Been”?
Use “there have been” in the following situations.
1. With plural countable nouns
- There have been two accidents.
- There have been several delays.
- There have been many opportunities.
2. When describing repeated events
- There have been several meetings this month.
- There have been three power cuts today.
3. When describing multiple changes or developments
- There have been significant improvements.
- There have been many developments in the project.
4. When describing experiences or problems over time
- There have been complaints from customers.
- There have been difficulties during the process.
Remember that the noun does not need to refer to people or physical objects. Events, problems, changes, and opportunities can all be plural nouns.
There Has Been vs. There Have Been: Comparison Table
| Feature | There has been | There have been |
|---|---|---|
| Grammatical use | Singular or uncountable noun | Plural noun |
| Verb | Has | Have |
| Tense | Present perfect | Present perfect |
| Example with an event | There has been an accident. | There have been two accidents. |
| Example with a change | There has been a change. | There have been several changes. |
| Example with an uncountable noun | There has been some progress. | Not normally used with progress alone |
| Main rule | One item or an uncountable amount | Two or more countable items |
When to Use Each Expression
When Should You Use “There Has Been”?
Use “there has been” when the noun refers to one countable thing or an uncountable amount.
Examples:
- There has been a mistake in the report.
- There has been a lot of traffic today.
- There has been enough discussion about this issue.
- There has been an improvement in her writing.
Remember that uncountable nouns such as information, advice, progress, and equipment usually take singular verb forms.
Correct: There has been some useful information.
Incorrect: There have been some useful information.
When Should You Use “There Have Been”?
Use “there have been” when the noun refers to more than one countable thing.
Examples:
- There have been several mistakes in the report.
- There have been many visitors today.
- There have been two improvements in the system.
- There have been a few changes to the rules.
The words many, several, two, and a few often indicate that a plural noun is needed.
What About Questions and Negative Sentences?
Both expressions can be used in questions and negative statements.
Questions:
- Has there been a problem?
- Have there been any changes?
Negative sentences:
- There has not been a response.
- There have not been any complaints.
In everyday English, contractions are common:
- There hasn’t been a response.
- There haven’t been any complaints.
The same singular and plural rule applies in questions and negative sentences.
14 Examples of “There Has Been” and “There Have Been”
The following examples show how to use both expressions correctly in everyday situations.
Examples With “There Has Been”
- There has been a mistake in your application.
One mistake has occurred. - There has been a delay in the delivery.
One delay has affected the delivery. - There has been an accident near the school.
One accident has occurred. - There has been some progress on the project.
Progress is an uncountable noun. - There has been a change in the weather.
One change has taken place. - There has been a lot of confusion about the rules.
The noun confusion is uncountable here. - There has been an improvement in his English.
One improvement is being described.
Examples With “There Have Been”
- There have been several mistakes in the report.
Multiple mistakes have occurred. - There have been three meetings this week.
Three separate meetings have taken place. - There have been many changes to the schedule.
Multiple changes have occurred. - There have been several complaints from customers.
More than one complaint has been received. - There have been two accidents on this road today.
Two separate accidents have occurred. - There have been many opportunities to learn.
Multiple opportunities have existed. - There have been significant improvements in the results.
More than one improvement is being described.
More Examples in Questions and Negative Sentences
- Has there been any news?
- Have there been any updates?
- There hasn’t been enough time to finish.
- There haven’t been any major problems.
These examples demonstrate how the rule applies across different sentence types.
Common Mistakes With “There Has Been” and “There Have Been”
Mistake 1: Using “Has Been” With a Plural Noun
Incorrect: There has been many problems.
Correct: There have been many problems.
The noun problems is plural, so use have been.
Mistake 2: Using “Have Been” With a Singular Noun
Incorrect: There have been a problem.
Correct: There has been a problem.
The noun problem is singular, so use has been.
Mistake 3: Using “Have Been” With an Uncountable Noun
Incorrect: There have been some information about the event.
Correct: There has been some information about the event.
Information is uncountable in standard English, so it takes has been in this construction.
Mistake 4: Confusing “There Has Been” With “There Was”
Both can be correct, but they are used differently.
- There was a problem yesterday.
- There has been a problem recently.
The simple past often refers to a completed past event at a specified time. The present perfect connects the past event to the present and is commonly used when the exact past time is not specified.
Mistake 5: Forgetting the Main Noun
Incorrect: There has been several changes.
Correct: There have been several changes.
Do not choose the verb based on the word “there.” Look at the noun that follows been.
Mistake 6: Treating Every Noun Ending in “S” as Plural
Some nouns ending in s, such as news, are generally treated as singular or uncountable.
Correct: There has been some good news.
Incorrect: There have been some good news.
Always consider how the noun is used, rather than relying only on its spelling.
Memory Trick: How to Remember the Difference
Use this simple rule:
One thing = there has been.
Multiple things = there have been.
Remember these pairs:
- There has been one problem.
- There have been two problems.
- There has been some progress.
- There have been several improvements.
You can also remember the short forms:
- Has = singular or uncountable.
- Have = plural.
Before writing your sentence, identify the noun that follows been. If it is singular or uncountable, choose has been. If it is plural, choose have been.
American vs. British English: Is There a Difference?
There is no meaningful difference between American and British English in the basic rule for “there has been” and “there have been.”
Both varieties use has been with singular or uncountable nouns and have been with plural nouns.
| English variety | Singular or uncountable | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| American English | There has been a change. | There have been changes. |
| British English | There has been a change. | There have been changes. |
You can confidently use both expressions in schoolwork, formal writing, workplace communication, and everyday conversation in either variety.
Similar Words and Expressions
Several related expressions can help you talk about past events and situations more precisely.
1. There Was
Use there was with a singular noun or an uncountable noun when describing a past situation.
Example: There was a problem yesterday.
2. There Were
Use there were with a plural noun when describing a past situation.
Example: There were several problems yesterday.
3. There Has Been
Use this expression to connect a past event or situation with the present.
Example: There has been a change in the policy.
4. There Have Been
Use this expression when referring to multiple events or things that have occurred before now.
Example: There have been several changes in the policy.
5. There Had Been
Use the past perfect when referring to something that happened before another point or event in the past.
Example: There had been several complaints before the manager arrived.
6. There Will Have Been
Use the future perfect when referring to something that will have occurred by a particular future time.
Example: By Friday, there will have been five meetings this month.
These expressions help you distinguish between past, present-perfect, past-perfect, and future-perfect meanings.
Final Verdict: There Have Been or There Has Been?
Both expressions are correct, but they are used with different types of nouns.
Use “there has been” with a singular countable noun or an uncountable noun:
- There has been a delay.
- There has been some progress.
Use “there have been” with a plural noun:
- There have been several delays.
- There have been many improvements.
The most reliable way to choose correctly is to identify the noun that follows been. This simple subject-verb agreement rule will help you avoid mistakes in everyday speech, academic assignments, examinations, and professional writing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is it “there have been” or “there has been”?
Both are correct. Use “there has been” with singular or uncountable nouns, such as “There has been a problem.” Use “there have been” with plural nouns, such as “There have been several problems.”
2. Can I say “there has been many”?
No, not in standard English when many refers to a plural countable noun. Say “There have been many.” For example, “There have been many changes this year.”
3. Is “there have been a lot of” correct?
It depends on the noun that follows. Say “There have been a lot of problems” because problems is plural. Say “There has been a lot of traffic” because traffic is uncountable.
4. Is “there has been” present perfect tense?
Yes. “There has been” is the present perfect form of the existential construction with a singular or uncountable noun. It commonly describes an event or situation that occurred before now and remains relevant to the present.
5. What is the difference between “there was” and “there has been”?
“There was” is the simple past form and often describes a completed past situation. “There has been” is the present perfect form and connects a past event or situation to the present. For example, “There was a delay yesterday” and “There has been a delay recently.”
6. Should I say “there has been no changes” or “there have been no changes”?
Say “There have been no changes” because changes is plural. With a singular noun, say “There has been no change.”
7. Is “there have been some information” correct?
No. Information is an uncountable noun in standard English, so the correct sentence is “There has been some information.” If you use a countable expression such as pieces of information, say “There have been several pieces of information.”
8. Is there a difference between American and British English?
No significant difference exists in this grammar rule. Both American and British English use “there has been” with singular or uncountable nouns and “there have been” with plural nouns.
Remember This
- There has been: One event, one thing, or an uncountable amount.
- There have been: Two or more countable things or events.
- There was: A singular or uncountable situation in the past.
- There were: Multiple things or events in the past.
- There had been: Something that happened before another past event.
The easiest rule to remember is: singular or uncountable = has been; plural = have been.
Conclusion
The difference between “there have been” and “there has been” depends on subject-verb agreement. Use “there has been” when describing one event, a singular object, or an uncountable amount. Use “there have been” when describing multiple events, objects, or situations. Once you understand this distinction, choosing the correct expression becomes much easier.
Practise by identifying the noun in each sentence before deciding whether to use has or have. For example, “There has been a change” is correct, while “There have been several changes” is also correct. With regular practice, you will be able to use both expressions naturally in conversations, academic writing, professional emails, and everyday English.
