There Has Been vs There Have Been: Which One Is Correct?

If you’ve ever paused mid-sentence wondering whether to write “there has been” or “there have been,” you’re not alone. This is one of the most common grammar questions in English and the good news is, it’s much easier than it looks.

In this guide, you’ll learn the exact rule, see real-life examples, avoid common mistakes, and feel confident using both forms in everyday writing and speaking.

---

Quick Answer:

Use “there has been” with singular nouns and “there have been” with plural nouns.

• There has been + singular noun
  → There has been a mistake.
• There have been + plural noun
  → There have been many mistakes.

The verb agrees with the noun that comes after it not with “there.”

---

What Do “There Has Been” and “There Have Been” Mean?

Both phrases are part of the present perfect tense, used to talk about something that happened in the past and is still relevant now.

• There has been = Something (singular) happened or existed
• There have been = Multiple things (plural) happened or existed

These structures are often used to introduce information, especially in formal writing, reports, or storytelling.

Examples:

• There has been a change in the schedule.
• There have been several updates this week.

---

The Grammar Rule Explained (Simple and Clear)

The key rule is subject-verb agreement.

Even though the sentence starts with “there,” the real subject comes after the verb.

Structure:

• There + has/have + been + noun

How to choose:

• Use “has” → if the noun is singular
• Use “have” → if the noun is plural

Examples:

• There has been an error in the report. (singular: error)
• There have been errors in the report. (plural: errors)

Think of it this way: ignore “there” and match the verb with the noun that follows.

---

Real-Life Examples You Can Use

Here are practical examples across different contexts:

Everyday Conversations:

• There has been a delay in the delivery.
• There have been too many complaints lately.

Workplace Communication:

• There has been a misunderstanding between teams.
• There have been several improvements in performance.

Academic or Formal Writing:

• There has been significant progress in research.
• There have been numerous studies on this topic.

---

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even fluent speakers make these errors. Let’s fix them.

1. Using “has” with plural nouns

❌ There has been many issues.
✔️ There have been many issues.

2. Using “have” with singular nouns

❌ There have been a problem.
✔️ There has been a problem.

3. Getting confused by long phrases

Sometimes the noun is far from the verb.

❌ There has been a number of problems.
✔️ There have been a number of problems.

👉 Tip: Focus on the main noun (“problems”), not the phrase before it.

4. Ignoring uncountable nouns

Uncountable nouns are treated as singular.

✔️ There has been progress.
✔️ There has been information shared.

---

Comparison Table: There Has Been vs There Have Been

Feature	There Has Been	There Have Been
Usage	Singular nouns	Plural nouns
Verb form	“Has” (singular)	“Have” (plural)
Example	There has been a delay	There have been delays
Noun type	One item or idea	Multiple items or ideas
Common mistake	Used with plural nouns	Used with singular nouns

Special Cases You Should Know

1. Collective Nouns

Collective nouns (like team, group, family) are usually treated as singular.

• There has been a team meeting.

However, in some contexts (especially British English), they may be treated as plural.

2. “A Number of” vs “The Number of”

• There have been a number of issues. (plural meaning)
• There has been the number of issues reported. (rare, but singular focus)

3. Uncountable Nouns

Always use “has been”:

• There has been a lot of traffic.
• There has been progress.

---

American vs British English Differences

The rule for “there has been” vs “there have been” is the same in both American and British English.

However, differences may appear with collective nouns:

• American English:
  There has been a team working on this.
• British English:
  There have been a team working on this. (less common but acceptable in certain contexts)

In most cases, both varieties follow the same singular/plural rule.

Tips to Remember Easily

• Look at the noun after “been”
• Singular → has been
• Plural → have been
• Ignore “there” it’s not the subject

Quick Memory Trick:

👉 “Has = one, Have = many”

---

FAQs

1. Is “there has been” correct?

Yes, it’s correct when followed by a singular noun.
Example: There has been an accident.

2. Is “there have been” correct?

Yes, it’s correct when followed by a plural noun.
Example: There have been many accidents.

3. Can I use both in the same paragraph?

Absolutely. Just match each with the correct noun.
Example: There has been a delay, and there have been complaints.

4. What about uncountable nouns?

Use “there has been” because they are treated as singular.
Example: There has been progress.

5. Why do people confuse these phrases?

Because “there” looks like the subject, but it’s not. The real subject comes after the verb.

6. Is this rule important for exams?

Yes. It’s a common grammar rule tested in English exams and writing assessments.

7. Can I use contractions?

Yes, especially in informal writing:

• There’s been (there has been)
• There’ve been (less common, informal)

8. Which is more formal?

Both are equally acceptable in formal writing when used correctly.

---

Final Summary

Understanding the difference between “there has been” and “there have been” comes down to one simple rule: match the verb with the noun that follows. If the noun is singular or uncountable, use has been. If it’s plural, use have been. Once you train your eye to spot the real subject, the confusion disappears.

This small grammar fix can make a big difference in how clear and professional your writing sounds. If you’re writing emails, essays, or everyday messages, using the correct form shows attention to detail and strong language skills.

---

Actionable Takeaway

Next time you write a sentence with “there,” pause for one second and ask: Is the noun singular or plural? That’s your answer. Practice with a few examples daily, and soon it will feel completely natural.