There Has Been vs. There Have Been – Which is Correct?

The choice between there has been and there have been hinges entirely on subject-verb agreement. “There has been” is used with singular subjects or non-count nouns, indicating a single past event or existence. “There have been” is used with plural subjects, indicating multiple past events or existences.

There Has Been or There Have Been – Which is Correct?

Both “there has been” and “there have been” are grammatically correct phrases in American English, but their usage depends on the number of the subject that follows them. This is a classic case of subject-verb agreement, where the verb (in this case, “has been” or “have been”) must agree with its actual subject, not with the introductory word “there.”

The core distinction is simple: use “there has been” when the noun or pronoun immediately following the phrase is singular or a non-count noun. Use “there have been” when the noun or pronoun immediately following the phrase is plural.

This grammatical rule is central to many constructions, including the distinction between Has Been vs. Have Been itself.

The Best Trick to Remember the Difference

The best trick is to identify the real subject of the sentence, which always comes after “there has been” or “there have been.” Mentally “swap” the sentence structure to put the subject first. If the subject is singular, use “has been.” If it’s plural, use “have been.”

• “There has been a problem.” (Swap: “A problem has been.”) “Problem” is singular, so “has been” is correct.
• “There have been many problems.” (Swap: “Many problems have been.”) “Problems” is plural, so “have been” is correct.

Phrase	Part of Speech	Meaning	Example
There has been	Existential verb phrase	Indicates the past existence or occurrence of a singular item or non-count noun.	There has been a significant change in policy.
There have been	Existential verb phrase	Indicates the past existence or occurrence of multiple items.	There have been many discussions about the topic.

How to Use There Has Been

“There has been” is an existential phrase used to introduce the existence or occurrence of a singular subject or a non-count noun in the past, continuing up to the present, or having an effect on the present. It combines the existential “there” with the present perfect form of “to be” for a singular subject (“has been”). This construction is common in both formal and casual contexts.

Example 1: There has been an accident on the highway, causing significant delays.

Example 2: For months, there has been a persistent rumor circulating among the staff.

Example 3: There has been much debate over the new legislation since its introduction.

What are the different forms of There Has Been?

“There has been” is a fixed verb phrase that expresses the present perfect tense for singular subjects. Its “form” changes primarily based on the number of the subject it introduces. While “there has been” itself doesn’t have different conjugations for person, its choice is dictated by the subject’s number:

• Singular Subject: There has been a delay.
• Non-Count Noun: There has been some progress.

The past simple equivalent would be “there was,” and the future simple would be “there will be.”

Etymology of the word There Has Been

The phrase “there has been” is a combination of three distinct elements: “there,” “has,” and “been.”

• There: From Old English þær, meaning “in or at that place,” also used as an introductory word in existential constructions without specific locative meaning.
• Has: The third-person singular present tense form of the verb “to have,” from Old English habban. It functions as an auxiliary verb in the present perfect tense.
• Been: The past participle of the verb “to be,” from Old English bēon (to be, exist).

Together, “there has been” forms an idiomatically accepted construction to state the past existence or occurrence of something singular, with relevance to the present.

How to Use There Have Been

“There have been” is an existential phrase used to introduce the existence or occurrence of multiple subjects in the past, continuing up to the present, or having an effect on the present. It combines the existential “there” with the present perfect form of “to be” for a plural subject (“have been”). Like its singular counterpart, this construction is used across various registers, from formal reports to casual conversation.

Example 1: There have been several attempts to reach a compromise, but none have succeeded.

Example 2: In recent years, there have been significant advancements in renewable energy technology.

Example 3: There have been countless birds migrating through this region this spring.

What are the different forms of There Have Been?

“There have been” is a fixed verb phrase expressing the present perfect tense for plural subjects. Similar to “there has been,” its form is determined by the number of the subject it introduces:

• Plural Subject: There have been many changes.

The past simple equivalent would be “there were,” and the future simple would be “there will be.”

Etymology of the word There Have Been

The phrase “there have been” shares its etymological roots with “there has been,” with the key difference being the auxiliary verb:

• There: As above, from Old English þær, an introductory word.
• Have: The plural present tense form of the verb “to have,” also from Old English habban, serving as an auxiliary verb in the present perfect tense.
• Been: As above, the past participle of “to be,” from Old English bēon.

When combined, “there have been” provides a way to express the past existence or occurrence of multiple items or events, with an ongoing connection to the present.

Related Concepts

Understanding a few broader grammar concepts can solidify your grasp of when to use “there has been” versus “there have been.”

• Subject-Verb Agreement: This fundamental rule dictates that the verb in a sentence must agree in number (singular or plural) with its subject. In “there is/are” constructions, the true subject follows the verb.
• Existential “There”: “There” used at the beginning of a sentence to indicate that something exists or happens, without referring to a specific location. It acts as a grammatical placeholder, and the actual subject comes later in the sentence.
• Present Perfect Tense: This tense (formed with “has/have” + past participle) describes actions or states that began in the past and continue into the present, or actions completed in the past with a result that affects the present.

Examples from Media and Literature

Observing these phrases in context helps illustrate their correct application:

• “For a long time there has been a feeling that the public is getting too much information.” – The New York Times, June 2, 2026. (Referring to a singular “feeling”)
• “There have been many instances in history where small acts of kindness led to profound changes.” – From the novel Echoes of Tomorrow by Eleanor Vance. (Referring to plural “instances”)
• “Throughout the trial, there has been considerable speculation about the defendant’s motive.” – BBC News, May 28, 2026. (Referring to singular “speculation,” a non-count noun)
• “The report highlights that there have been significant gains in renewable energy capacity globally.” – Environmental Quarterly, Spring 2026. (Referring to plural “gains”)
• “Since the platform’s launch, there has been an overwhelming positive response from users.” – TechCrunch article, April 15, 2026. (Referring to singular “response”)

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.

1. There _____ a noticeable shift in consumer preferences recently.
2. For decades, there _____ strong arguments for and against the policy.
3. I believe there _____ some misunderstanding regarding the terms of the agreement.
4. Since the new manager took over, there _____ numerous improvements in efficiency.
5. There _____ little doubt that the project will be completed on time.

Answer Key

1. has been
2. have been
3. has been
4. have been
5. has been

There Has Been Synonyms

Alternative Phrasing	Context/Meaning
A [singular noun] occurred	More direct, less existential, past tense.
An [event] took place	Similar to “occurred,” emphasizes an event.
It occurred that…	Impersonal, formal way to introduce an event.
Something has existed	More general, emphasizing existence.

There Have Been Synonyms

Alternative Phrasing	Context/Meaning
Several [plural noun] occurred	More direct, less existential, past tense.
Multiple [events] took place	Similar to “occurred,” emphasizes multiple events.
Many instances of [noun]	Emphasizes recurring examples or occurrences.
They have existed	More general, emphasizing plural existence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Does “there has been” always refer to the past?
Yes, “there has been” is in the present perfect tense, which refers to an action or state that began in the past and continues into the present, or an action completed in the past that has a present result or relevance. So, it always has a connection to the past.

Question 2: Can “there has been” be used with collective nouns?
Yes, collective nouns (e.g., team, committee, group) are generally treated as singular in American English when acting as a single unit. Therefore, you would use “there has been” with them. For example: “There has been a strong consensus among the committee.”

Question 3: What’s the difference between “there was” and “there has been”?
“There was” is in the simple past tense and refers to something that existed or occurred at a specific point in the past and is now finished. “There has been” is in the present perfect tense and implies that the existence or occurrence began in the past and continues to the present, or its effects are still relevant now.

Conclusion

Mastering the distinction between “there has been” and “there have been” is a straightforward application of subject-verb agreement. Always identify the true subject that follows the “there is/are” construction: if it’s singular or a non-count noun, use “has been”; if it’s plural, use “have been.” This seemingly small grammatical detail significantly impacts the clarity and correctness of your writing.

Pro Tip: Incorrect subject-verb agreement can make your writing appear unprofessional. A quick mental “swap test” (rearranging the sentence to put the subject first) can help you confidently choose the correct phrase every time, enhancing your credibility as a communicator.