There Has Been or There Have Been? The Complete Guide

Have you ever paused mid-email and wondered whether to write “there has been” or “there have been”? It happens more often than you think, especially when you’re juggling scheduling, meetings, project management, or any form of business communication. In fast-paced settings where time management, online booking, and broadcasting updates matter, choosing the right phrase keeps your writing clear and consistent. This article breaks down the difference between “there has been or there have been” so you can communicate with confidence across reports, calendars, and formal messages. We’ll also touch briefly on US vs. UK preferences and what major style guides recommend, so you get a fully rounded understanding.

By the end, you’ll know exactly when to use each structure, how grammar impacts tone in formal writing, and why the right choice boosts clarity in everyday English usage. You’ll also see helpful examples tied to real workplace scenarios, from quick updates to detailed project summaries. Whether you’re polishing a proposal or sending a rapid status note, this guide gives you the tools to stay polished, precise, and consistent.

Why the Difference Between “There Has Been” and “There Have Been” Matters

Mistakes in verb usage can disrupt clarity. Readers instantly notice when verb forms don’t match the subject. That single mismatch can shift the tone of your writing from polished to sloppy.

When you choose the correct form:

• Your writing sounds more professional.
• Your ideas flow naturally.
• Your sentences carry the right meaning.
• Your communication becomes effortless for readers.

Accurate grammar also builds trust. Whether you’re emailing clients, writing academic papers, creating reports, or producing online content, precise language sets you apart.

Understanding the Core Rule: Singular vs Plural Subjects

The entire decision between “there has been” and “there have been” depends on one simple principle:

Match the verb to the subject that appears after the word “there.”

The subject doesn’t come before the verb in these structures. It comes after “there,” and that’s why English learners often miss the real subject.

Here’s the rule in its simplest form:

• Use “there has been” when the subject is singular.
• Use “there have been” when the subject is plural.

Table: Singular vs. Plural Triggers

Subject Type	Example Subjects	Correct Form
Singular noun	delay, accident, decision, problem	there has been
Uncountable noun	rain, traffic, evidence, progress	there has been
Plural noun	changes, issues, delays, complaints	there have been
Multiple events	several calls, many updates	there have been
Compound plural subjects	errors and warnings	there have been

Because English relies heavily on subject–verb agreement, spotting the true subject makes everything easier.

When to Use “There Has Been” (With Deep Examples)

You use “there has been” when describing one thing, one event, or one condition.

Use it with singular nouns

• There has been a mistake.
• There has been a fire in the building.
• There has been a shift in policy.

Use it with uncountable nouns

Uncountable nouns take singular verbs because they represent a mass or collective idea.

Examples:

• There has been heavy rainfall this week.
• There has been new information about the case.
• There has been progress on the project.

Use it when referring to one event or one instance

Sometimes the noun may feel “plural” in concept, but the phrasing shows only one event.

• There has been an increase in prices.
• There has been a reduction in staff.
• There has been a sudden change in demand.

Quick list of common nouns that fit “there has been”

• accident
• update
• emergency
• announcement
• delay
• improvement
• complaint
• shortage
• misunderstanding
• warning

When to Use “There Have Been” (Clear and Practical Guidance)

You use “there have been” when describing more than one thing.

Use it with plural nouns

• There have been several delays today.
• There have been many complaints about the service.
• There have been issues with the new system.

Use it with multiple events

Whenever plural actions or occurrences appear, “have” is the correct choice.

• There have been three power outages this month.
• There have been numerous security breaches.
• There have been unusual weather patterns.

Use it with plural pronouns

• There have been many of them.
• There have been several of these.
• There have been few of those.

Common nouns that require “there have been”

• changes
• attempts
• discussions
• improvements
• complaints
• storms
• mistakes
• opportunities
• reasons
• visitors

Examples That Show the Difference Clearly

To see how the forms work in real situations, compare these pairs:

Table: Side-by-Side Usage

Example (Correct)	Explanation
There has been a problem.	“Problem” is singular.
There have been problems.	“Problems” is plural.
There has been a change in leadership.	One change.
There have been changes in leadership.	Multiple changes.
There has been progress.	“Progress” is uncountable.
There have been reports of progress.	“Reports” is plural.
There has been an improvement.	One improvement.
There have been improvements.	More than one improvement.

Small shifts in the subject completely change the verb.

Why “Been” Works in Both Forms: The Grammatical Mechanics

Both structures use the present perfect tense. This tense connects the past and the present. It shows that something began earlier and still matters now.

Breakdown of the structure

• “Has” = singular present perfect auxiliary
• “Have” = plural present perfect auxiliary
• “Been” = past participle of be

Together, they create a form that expresses experience, results, or recent events.

What this structure tells readers

It signals:

• relevance to the present moment,
• completion of an action,
• time periods that continue,
• ongoing conditions.

Example of present perfect meaning

• “There has been an accident.”
  → The accident happened recently and still affects the present situation.
• “There have been accidents.”
  → Several accidents occurred recently, and the consequence impacts the current moment.
  

How Context Drives the Right Choice

Grammar isn’t isolated; context shapes meaning. The surrounding sentence often clarifies whether the subject is singular or plural.

Examples from real-world situations

Business setting

• There has been a significant drop in revenue.
• There have been complaints from multiple departments.

Weather reports

• There has been heavy snowfall across the region.
• There have been severe storms in the last few days.

News updates

• There has been an arrest in the investigation.
• There have been arrests across multiple cities.

Case study: Customer service scenario

A tech company receives feedback after a software update.

• Users report one major bug → “There has been a major bug affecting login.”
• Users report multiple glitches → “There have been several glitches since the update.”

The meaning instantly shifts when the number of issues changes.

Using These Forms in Questions

Questions follow the same rule: match the verb to the subject.

Singular forms

• Has there been a problem?
• Has there been a new development?
• Has there been any improvement?

Plural forms

• Have there been any issues?
• Have there been delays?
• Have there been changes to the plan?

Formula to remember

Has/Have + there + been + subject + (details)?

Examples with “How long”

• How long has there been a shortage?
• How long have there been problems with the system?

Using “There Has Been” and “There Have Been” in Affirmative Sentences

Affirmative forms appear constantly in reports, news, and everyday conversations.

Examples: Clear and natural positive statements

• There has been a misunderstanding.
• There have been several improvements since last year.
• There has been a shift in priorities.
• There have been remarkable achievements lately.

Pro tip

Use short, purposeful sentences in professional writing. They create authority and help readers process information quickly.

Using These Forms in Negative Statements

Negative forms require “not” after “has” or “have.”

Correct negative structures

• There has not been any progress.
• There have not been updates this week.

Common contractions

• There hasn’t been any progress.
• There haven’t been updates this week.

Examples in context

• There hasn’t been a schedule change yet.
• There haven’t been any complaints today.
• There hasn’t been enough evidence to reopen the case.

Common Errors Learners Make (With Fixes)

Even advanced learners slip when complex sentence structures hide the real subject.

Mistake 1: Letting prepositional phrases distract you

Incorrect: There have been an increase in prices.
Correct: There has been an increase in prices.

Why? “Increase” is singular. “In prices” is a prepositional phrase and doesn’t affect verb agreement.

Mistake 2: Confusing collective nouns

Words like “team,” “staff,” and “family” look plural but act singular in American English.

Correct:

• There has been a lot of support from the team.
• There has been strong feedback from the staff.

Mistake 3: Ignoring compound subjects

When two plural subjects join together, you treat them as plural.

Correct:

• There have been delays and cancellations.
• There have been meetings and briefings.

Mistake 4: Choosing the verb too early

Writers sometimes choose “has” or “have” before they even read the subject.

A helpful mental trick:

Always find the subject after “been.” If it’s singular, use “has.” If it’s plural, use “have.”

Historical and Modern Usage Trends: “There Has Been” vs. “There Have Been”

Language changes over time. Although both forms remain common, usage patterns differ by context.

Modern observations backed by corpus analysis

• News outlets use “there have been” more often because headlines highlight multiple events.
• Academic writing prefers “there has been” when introducing theories or single findings.
• Business reports alternate between the two based on data quantity.
• Social media users lean toward “there has been” due to simpler sentence structures.

Examples from modern writing

• “There have been widespread protests across the country.”
• “There has been strong criticism of the proposal.”

These patterns show how writers adapt forms to match the weight of information.

Special Cases That Confuse Even Native Speakers

Some structures blur the lines between singular and plural. Here’s how to handle them.

Collective nouns

American English treats collective nouns as singular.

Examples:

• There has been a lot of support from the team.
• There has been unity within the committee.

Indefinite pronouns

Some pronouns are always singular, some are always plural, and some depend on context.

Pronoun	Correct Form	Example
each, every, anyone, everyone	singular	There has been a misunderstanding.
many, several, few	plural	There have been several complaints.
none, some, all	depends on noun	There has been some confusion. / There have been some problems.

Compound subjects

If the sentence refers to multiple things joined by “and,” treat them as plural.

• There have been interruptions and delays.

Situations where both forms may work

Sometimes meaning changes depending on the writer’s intent.

Example:

• There has been a series of accidents.
  → “Series” is singular.
• There have been a series of accidents.
  → Focus shifts to individual accidents. Both are acceptable.

Context drives the choice.

Read More: “Among Others” Meaning & Correct Usage (With Examples)

Frequently Asked Questions About “There Has Been” vs “There Have Been”

1. What’s the main difference between “there has been” and “there have been”?

“There has been” is used with singular nouns. “There have been” is used with plural nouns. That’s the core rule.

2. Is “there has been” always singular?

Yes. It only works when the subject refers to one thing, even if that thing feels complex or abstract.

3. Can I ever use “there have been” with a single idea?

No. “There have been” requires at least two or more items or events.

4. Do US and UK English treat these phrases differently?

Not in meaning. The rule is the same in both regions, although UK English allows more flexibility with collective nouns. The singular/plural rule still applies.

5. Why do these phrases use the present perfect tense?

Because they describe actions or situations that started in the past and continue into the present or have present relevance.

6. Is one phrase more formal than the other?

No. Both are neutral and work well in formal writing, business communication, and everyday English.

7. How do I know which noun the verb agrees with?

Look at the subject that follows the phrase, not the words around it. Example: “There have been delays…”—delays is plural.

8. What if more information comes after the noun—does it affect the verb?

No. Always match the verb to the main noun, even if modifiers follow it.
Example: “There has been a change in the schedule…”

9. Can I use contractions like “there’s been”?

Yes, but only informally. “There’s been” replaces there has been. Never use “there’s” with plural nouns.

10. Why does this matter in business and project management?

Clear grammar enhances credibility, avoids miscommunication, and helps maintain consistency across emails, reports, updates, and scheduling notes.

11. Are these phrases interchangeable with the simple past?

Sometimes. But the present perfect often sounds more natural when the situation is ongoing or has present impact.

12. What are some examples of each phrase?

– “There has been an error in the report.” (singular)
– “There have been several updates to the calendar.” (plural)

Related Grammar Topics Readers Search For Next

Since learners often study patterns together, these topics connect naturally:

• Active vs passive sentences
• “So do I” vs “So am I”
• Using “me” and “I” correctly
• Hyphenation rules: “world-class” vs “world class”
• Hyphenation with “large scale” and “large-scale”
• How to avoid squinting modifiers

Each one deepens your understanding of everyday English.

Quick Reference Cheat Sheet

Here’s a simple guide you can save:

Use “There has been” when the subject is:

• singular
• uncountable
• one event or situation

Use “There have been” when the subject is:

• plural
• multiple events
• compound nouns

Memory trick

One thing = has
Multiple things = have

Table: Quick Correct vs Correct Examples

Correct	Incorrect
There has been an issue.	There have been an issue.
There have been errors.	There has been errors.
There has been progress.	There have been progress.
There have been many calls.	There has been many calls.

Conclusion

In the end, choosing between “there has been” and “there have been” comes down to identifying whether your subject is singular or plural. Once you master that simple distinction, your writing becomes clearer, smoother, and far more consistent across emails, reports, and everyday communication. It’s a small grammar choice that makes a big difference in professional tone, especially when you’re navigating project management, time-sensitive scheduling, or formal writing tasks.

As you continue refining your English usage, keep this guide as a quick reference to stay confident and precise. Whether you follow US or UK conventions, the goal remains the same—maintain clarity, support your message, and avoid distracting errors. When you use the right structure every time, your communication feels polished, natural, and unmistakably professional.