Have you ever paused while writing a sentence because you weren’t sure whether to use “there have been” or “there has been”? You’re not alone. These two phrases look almost identical, but choosing the correct one depends on the noun you’re talking about.
Understanding there have been or there has been can help you avoid common grammar mistakes and make your English sound more natural. Both expressions use the present perfect tense to describe events, situations, or changes that started or occurred in the past and remain relevant to the present.
However, “there has been” usually goes with singular nouns and uncountable nouns, while “there have been” is used with plural nouns. Once you understand this simple subject-verb agreement rule, choosing between them becomes much easier.
What Do “There Have Been” and “There Has Been” Mean?
Both “there have been” and “there has been” are forms of the expression “there be.” We use this structure to say that something exists, happens, or has happened.
The word “there” introduces the subject, while “have” or “has” agrees with the real subject that comes after the verb.
Meaning of “There Has Been”
“There has been” means that one thing has existed, happened, or occurred, or that an uncountable amount of something has been present.
It is used with:
- Singular countable nouns
- Uncountable nouns
Examples:
- There has been a delay.
- There has been an accident.
- There has been a change in the schedule.
- There has been some confusion.
- There has been too much noise.
In each example, the noun or noun phrase is singular or uncountable.
Meaning of “There Have Been”
“There have been” means that two or more things have existed, happened, or occurred.
It is used with plural countable nouns.
Examples:
- There have been several delays.
- There have been many accidents.
- There have been changes in the schedule.
- There have been some misunderstandings.
- There have been three meetings this week.
The important point is that “have” agrees with a plural subject, even though “there” appears before the verb.
The Main Grammar Rule
The easiest way to remember the difference is:
There has been + singular noun or uncountable noun There have been + plural noun
Basic Formula
| Structure | When to use it | Example |
| There has been + singular noun | One thing | There has been a mistake. |
| There has been + uncountable noun | An amount of something | There has been progress. |
| There have been + plural noun | Two or more things | There have been several mistakes. |
Compare These Sentences
- There has been a problem. One problem exists or has occurred.
- There have been several problems. More than one problem exists or has occurred.
- There has been a lot of traffic. Traffic is uncountable.
- There have been many cars on the road. Cars is plural.
The verb changes because the subject changes.
Why Does the Verb Depend on the Noun?
This is where many English learners become confused. The sentence begins with “there,” so it may seem that “there” controls the verb. However, “there” is not the real subject in this structure. It is an introductory word, sometimes called a dummy subject or existential there.
The real subject usually comes after the verb.
Example: Singular Subject
There has been a problem.
The real subject is “a problem.” Since it is singular, we use “has.”
Example: Plural Subject
There have been many problems.
The real subject is “many problems.” Since it is plural, we use “have.”
A Simple Question to Ask Yourself
Before choosing the verb, ask:
“What is there?”
- What is there? A problem. → There has been a problem.
- What is there? Several problems. → There have been several problems.
- What is there? Some confusion. → There has been some confusion.
This simple question can help you identify the correct form quickly.
When to Use “There Has Been”
Use “there has been” when the noun after it is singular or uncountable. It is especially common when talking about a past event that has a connection to the present.
Singular Countable Nouns
A singular countable noun refers to one person, place, thing, or idea.
Examples:
- There has been a change in the weather.
- There has been an error in the report.
- There has been a new development.
- There has been a misunderstanding.
- There has been a serious delay.
- There has been a power outage.
- There has been an improvement in her writing.
- There has been a complaint from a customer.
- There has been a mistake in the calculation.
- There has been an announcement.
Notice that each sentence refers to one thing.
Uncountable Nouns
Uncountable nouns describe things that are not usually counted as separate individual units. Examples include information, advice, progress, traffic, money, and noise.
Use “there has been” with these nouns.
Examples:
- There has been a lot of progress.
- There has been enough discussion.
- There has been too much traffic today.
- There has been some confusion about the instructions.
- There has been little improvement.
- There has been a great deal of interest in the project.
- There has been a lot of rain this month.
- There has been significant growth in the business.
Important Note About “A Lot Of”
The phrase “a lot of” does not automatically require “have.” The verb depends on the noun that follows.
- There has been a lot of water. (Water is uncountable.)
- There have been a lot of people. (People is plural.)
- There has been a lot of interest. (Interest is uncountable.)
- There have been a lot of questions. (Questions is plural.)
When to Use “There Have Been”
Use “there have been” when the noun after it is plural. This means that two or more people, things, events, or ideas are involved.
Plural Countable Nouns
Plural countable nouns can be counted individually, such as books, students, problems, changes, and visitors.
Examples:
- There have been several changes to the plan.
- There have been many questions about the new policy.
- There have been three meetings this week.
- There have been several accidents on this road.
- There have been numerous complaints.
- There have been many improvements in the service.
- There have been a few mistakes in the document.
- There have been several opportunities to learn.
- There have been many visitors today.
- There have been unexpected developments.
Plural Nouns with Numbers
When a plural noun follows a number greater than one, use “there have been.”
- There have been two interviews.
- There have been five updates.
- There have been ten applicants.
- There have been several delays.
- There have been many discussions.
However, “one” takes a singular noun:
- There has been one interview.
- There has been one update.
- There has been one applicant.
“There Has Been” vs. “There Have Been” in the Present Perfect
Both phrases are in the present perfect tense. The present perfect is formed with:
has/have + been
We use it to talk about something that happened in the past but is connected to the present, or something that has occurred during a period that continues until now.
Present Perfect Structure
| Subject type | Present perfect form |
| Singular noun | There has been |
| Plural noun | There have been |
| Uncountable noun | There has been |
Examples in Context
Singular:
There has been a significant change in the company’s policy.
The change happened in the past, but it matters now.
Plural:
There have been several changes in the company’s policy.
Multiple changes have happened, and they matter now.
Uncountable:
There has been considerable progress on the project.
Progress is uncountable, so “has” is correct.
Words Commonly Used with These Phrases
You may see these expressions with:
- Recently
- Lately
- So far
- This week
- This month
- In recent years
- Over the past few days
- Since Monday
- For a long time
Examples:
- There has been a problem recently.
- There have been several updates lately.
- There has been a lot of rain this week.
- There have been many changes over the past few years.
- There has been some confusion since Monday.
There Has Been or There Have Been: Detailed Comparison
The following table makes the difference easier to understand.
| Feature | There has been | There have been |
| Subject | Singular or uncountable | Plural |
| Tense | Present perfect | Present perfect |
| Meaning | One thing or an amount has existed or occurred | Multiple things have existed or occurred |
| Example | There has been a delay. | There have been delays. |
| Example with “many” | Not normally used with plural “many” nouns | There have been many delays. |
| Example with “a lot of” | There has been a lot of water. | There have been a lot of visitors. |
Side-by-Side Examples
| Singular / Uncountable | Plural |
| There has been a problem. | There have been several problems. |
| There has been an accident. | There have been several accidents. |
| There has been some noise. | There have been many complaints. |
| There has been a change. | There have been many changes. |
| There has been a lot of rain. | There have been heavy rains. |
| There has been one meeting. | There have been three meetings. |
Common Mistakes with “There Has Been” and “There Have Been”
Even advanced English learners sometimes make mistakes with these phrases. Here are the most common ones.
Mistake 1: Using “Has” with a Plural Noun
Incorrect: There has been many problems.
Correct: There have been many problems.
Why? Problems is plural, so it requires “have.”
Mistake 2: Using “Have” with a Singular Noun
Incorrect: There have been a problem.
Correct: There has been a problem.
Why? A problem is singular, so it requires “has.”
Mistake 3: Choosing the Verb Based on “There”
Some learners think “there” is singular or plural. However, the verb should agree with the real subject.
Incorrect: There has been several changes.
Correct: There have been several changes.
The phrase “several changes” is plural.
Mistake 4: Confusing “Been” with “Being”
Incorrect: There has being a problem.
Correct: There has been a problem.
Been is the past participle of be, and it is used after has or have in the present perfect.
Being is the present participle and is used in different structures.
Mistake 5: Using “There Has Been” with “Many”
Incorrect: There has been many people at the event.
Correct: There have been many people at the event.
The noun “people” is plural, so use “have.”
Mistake 6: Treating Uncountable Nouns as Plural
Incorrect: There have been some information about the course.
Correct: There has been some information about the course.
Information is uncountable in standard English.
Other common uncountable nouns include:
- Advice
- Furniture
- Equipment
- Progress
- Research
- News
- Traffic
- Knowledge
Examples:
- There has been some useful advice.
- There has been a lot of research.
- There has been significant progress.
- There has been good news.
Mistake 7: Forgetting “Been”
Incorrect: There has a problem.
Correct: There has been a problem.
The present perfect structure requires has/have + been.
Common Spelling Tips
Although the main issue is grammar, spelling and word forms can also cause confusion.
“Have” vs. “Has”
- Have is used with I, you, we, they, and plural nouns.
- Has is used with he, she, it, and singular nouns.
In existential sentences:
- There has been a problem.
- There have been problems.
“Been” vs. “Being”
| Word | Meaning / Use | Example |
| Been | Past participle of be | There has been a delay. |
| Being | Present participle of be | He is being careful. |
Remember:
There has been is correct. There has being is incorrect.
“There” vs. “Their” vs. “They’re”
These words sound similar but have different meanings.
- There = refers to a place or introduces existence.
- Their = shows possession.
- They’re = contraction of they are.
Examples:
- There have been many changes.
- Their plans have changed.
- They’re working on the project.
Negative Sentences
To make these phrases negative, add “not” after has or have.
Singular or Uncountable
There has not been…
Examples:
- There has not been any progress.
- There has not been a response.
- There has not been enough time.
- There hasn’t been a problem so far.
- There hasn’t been much rain.
Plural
There have not been…
Examples:
- There have not been any complaints.
- There have not been many changes.
- There haven’t been any updates.
- There haven’t been enough volunteers.
- There haven’t been serious delays.
Contractions
In everyday English, contractions are very common:
- There has been → There’s been
- There have been → There’ve been (less common)
- There has not been → There hasn’t been
- There have not been → There haven’t been
Examples:
- There’s been a misunderstanding.
- There hasn’t been any news.
- There haven’t been many visitors.
Note: “There’s been” is commonly used in speech and informal writing. In formal writing, “there has been” is often clearer.
Questions with “There Has Been” and “There Have Been”
To form questions, place has or have before there.
Singular or Uncountable Questions
Has there been…?
Examples:
- Has there been a change?
- Has there been an accident?
- Has there been any progress?
- Has there been enough time?
- Has there been a misunderstanding?
Plural Questions
Have there been…?
Examples:
- Have there been any updates?
- Have there been many complaints?
- Have there been several meetings?
- Have there been changes to the schedule?
- Have there been any problems?
Short Answers
Question: Has there been a delay? Answer: Yes, there has. / No, there hasn’t.
Question: Have there been any delays? Answer: Yes, there have. / No, there haven’t.
Examples in Everyday Situations
Learning grammar becomes easier when you see how people use it in real conversations.
At Work
- There has been a change in the meeting time.
- There have been several updates to the project.
- There has been some confusion about the deadline.
- There have been many improvements in our workflow.
At School
- There has been a change in the class schedule.
- There have been several tests this month.
- There has been a lot of homework recently.
- There have been some interesting discussions in class.
In Daily Life
- There has been a power outage.
- There have been several power outages this week.
- There has been a lot of traffic today.
- There have been many visitors at the market.
In News and Reports
- There has been an increase in prices.
- There have been several reports of delays.
- There has been significant progress in the investigation.
- There have been many discussions about the issue.
In Conversations
A: Why is everyone waiting?
B: There has been a delay.
A: Why are people discussing the meeting?
B: There have been several changes.
A: Is the project moving forward?
B: Yes, there has been some progress.
Examples with Different Time Expressions
Recently
- There has been a change recently.
- There have been several changes recently.
Lately
- There has been a lot of rain lately.
- There have been many storms lately.
This Week
- There has been one meeting this week.
- There have been three meetings this week.
Since Monday
- There has been a problem since Monday.
- There have been several problems since Monday.
Over the Past Year
- There has been considerable growth over the past year.
- There have been many developments over the past year.
How to Choose the Correct Form Quickly
If you are unsure whether to use “there has been” or “there have been,” follow these steps.
Step 1: Find the Noun After “Been”
Look at the noun or noun phrase that follows the verb.
- There has been a problem.
- There have been several problems.
Step 2: Decide Whether It Is Singular, Plural, or Uncountable
Ask yourself:
- Is it one thing? → Has
- Is it more than one? → Have
- Is it uncountable? → Has
Step 3: Check Words Like “Many” and “Several”
Words such as many, several, numerous, a few, and two usually indicate a plural noun.
- There have been many changes.
- There have been several meetings.
Words such as a, an, one, and each usually indicate a singular noun.
- There has been a change.
- There has been one meeting.
Step 4: Check Whether the Noun Is Uncountable
Some nouns look like they describe many things but are grammatically uncountable.
- There has been some information.
- There has been a lot of advice.
- There has been progress.
Step 5: Read the Sentence Aloud
Sometimes hearing the sentence helps you notice whether it sounds natural.
- There has been a problem. ✓
- There have been several problems. ✓
With practice, the correct form will become automatic.
Advanced Grammar: What If More Than One Noun Follows?
Sometimes a sentence contains a compound noun phrase. The verb usually agrees with the noun phrase that follows “there.”
Singular Compound Subject
- There has been a man and a woman waiting outside.
This sentence can sound awkward because the subject is compound and plural in meaning. In careful formal English, it is often better to say:
- There have been a man and a woman waiting outside.
However, natural usage can vary depending on how the speaker conceptualizes the phrase. When in doubt, rewrite the sentence for clarity.
Plural Compound Subject
- There have been a teacher and two students in the room.
A clearer version may be:
- A teacher and two students have been in the room.
Practical Tip
When a sentence contains multiple nouns, consider rewriting it to make the subject-verb agreement easier to understand.
“There Has Been” or “There Have Been” with Collective Nouns
Collective nouns refer to groups, such as team, family, committee, audience, and government. In American English, these nouns are usually treated as singular when the group acts as one unit.
Examples:
- There has been a committee meeting.
- There has been a change in the team.
- There has been a disagreement within the family.
However, the choice depends on the noun that follows the phrase, not simply the group noun itself.
Compare:
- There has been a team meeting. (Team is singular.)
- There have been several team meetings. (Meetings is plural.)
Formal vs. Informal Usage
Both phrases are correct in formal and informal English. The difference is not about formality; it is about subject-verb agreement.
Formal Writing
- There has been a significant increase in demand.
- There have been several changes to the regulations.
Informal Conversation
- There’s been a problem.
- There’ve been a few issues.
In everyday speech, “there’s been” is much more common than “there’ve been.” Many speakers prefer to say:
There have been a few issues.
rather than using the less common contraction.
“There Has Been” vs. “There Was”
These phrases are not always interchangeable.
There Has Been
Use the present perfect when the event is connected to the present or when the time period is unfinished.
- There has been a problem this week.
- There have been several updates recently.
There Was
Use the simple past when talking about a completed past time.
- There was a problem yesterday.
- There were several updates last year.
Compare
- There has been a delay today. Today is still continuing, or the delay matters now.
- There was a delay yesterday. Yesterday is finished.
The same difference applies to plural forms:
- There have been several meetings this month.
- There were several meetings last month.
“There Has Been” vs. “There Is”
These phrases also have different meanings.
There Is
Use “there is” for something that exists now.
- There is a problem.
- There is some water in the bottle.
There Has Been
Use “there has been” for something that has existed or occurred over a period of time or has recently happened.
- There has been a problem.
- There has been some water in the bottle.
Compare
- There is a change in the schedule. The change exists now.
- There has been a change in the schedule. The change occurred recently or has happened up to now.
“There Have Been” vs. “There Were”
The same tense distinction applies to plural nouns.
Present Perfect
- There have been many changes this year.
- There have been several accidents recently.
Simple Past
- There were many changes last year.
- There were several accidents yesterday.
Use “have been” when the time period is connected to the present. Use “were” when the past time is finished.
Practice: Choose the Correct Answer
Try completing these sentences before checking the answers.
- There ___ been a mistake.
- There ___ been many mistakes.
- There ___ been some progress.
- There ___ been several meetings.
- There ___ been an accident.
- There ___ been too much noise.
- There ___ been three updates.
- There ___ been a change in the plan.
- There ___ been many visitors.
- There ___ been enough information.
Answers
- has
- have
- has
- have
- has
- has
- have
- has
- have
- has
Why These Answers Are Correct
- A mistake is singular.
- Many mistakes is plural.
- Progress is uncountable.
- Several meetings is plural.
- An accident is singular.
- Noise is uncountable.
- Three updates is plural.
- A change is singular.
- Many visitors is plural.
- Information is uncountable.
More Practice Sentences
Choose “there has been” or “there have been.”
Singular and Uncountable
- There ___ been a new announcement.
- There ___ been some confusion.
- There ___ been a lot of excitement.
- There ___ been an improvement.
- There ___ been one major issue.
Plural
- There ___ been many announcements.
- There ___ been several misunderstandings.
- There ___ been numerous improvements.
- There ___ been two major issues.
- There ___ been a few complaints.
Correct Answers
Singular and uncountable:
- There has been a new announcement.
- There has been some confusion.
- There has been a lot of excitement.
- There has been an improvement.
- There has been one major issue.
Plural:
- There have been many announcements.
- There have been several misunderstandings.
- There have been numerous improvements.
- There have been two major issues.
- There have been a few complaints.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is “there have been” grammatically correct?
Yes, “there have been” is grammatically correct when it is followed by a plural noun.
Example: There have been several changes.
Is “there has been” grammatically correct?
Yes, “there has been” is correct when it is followed by a singular or uncountable noun.
Example: There has been a change.
Which is correct: “There has been many” or “There have been many”?
The correct form is “there have been many” when many is followed by a plural countable noun.
Example: There have been many questions.
Which is correct: “There has been a lot of” or “There have been a lot of”?
Both can be correct. The verb depends on the noun after “a lot of.”
- There has been a lot of rain.
- There have been a lot of people.
Can I use “there has been” with uncountable nouns?
Yes. Use “there has been” with uncountable nouns.
Examples:
- There has been some advice.
- There has been progress.
- There has been a lot of traffic.
Can I use “there have been” with “many”?
Yes. “Many” is normally followed by a plural countable noun, so use “have.”
Example: There have been many opportunities.
What is the difference between “there has been” and “there was”?
“There has been” is present perfect and connects a past event to the present. “There was” is simple past and refers to a completed past time.
- There has been a problem this week.
- There was a problem yesterday.
What is the contraction of “there has been”?
The common contraction is “there’s been.”
Example: There’s been a misunderstanding.
Is “there’ve been” correct?
Yes, “there’ve been” is grammatically possible, but it is less common in everyday English. Most speakers use the full form “there have been.”
Should I say “there has been several reasons”?
No. The correct sentence is:
There have been several reasons.
The noun “reasons” is plural.
Should I say “there have been some information”?
No. The correct sentence is:
There has been some information.
Information is an uncountable noun.
Can “there has been” be used in questions?
Yes.
Examples:
- Has there been a problem?
- Has there been any progress?
- Has there been a change?
Can “there have been” be used in negative sentences?
Yes.
Examples:
- There have not been any updates.
- There haven’t been many visitors.
- There have been no complaints.
Is “there has been” singular or plural?
“There has been” is used with singular or uncountable subjects. “There have been” is used with plural subjects.
How can I remember the difference easily?
Remember this simple rule:
One or uncountable → has been More than one → have been
For example:
- One problem → There has been a problem.
- Several problems → There have been several problems.
Final Thought
The word “there” does not decide whether to use has or have. The noun that follows “been” does. When you learn to identify that noun, choosing the correct phrase becomes much easier.
Whether you are writing an email, preparing an article, speaking in a meeting, or studying English grammar, this rule will help you communicate more clearly. Keep practicing with real examples, and soon “there has been” and “there have been” will feel natural.
Daniel Carter is a passionate writer who creates clear, helpful, and easy-to-understand content. He focuses on language, grammar, word meanings, and everyday expressions, helping readers find simple answers to common questions.
