There Have Been or There Has Been: Subject-Verb Agreement Rules

Have you ever paused while writing an email because you were unsure whether to say “there have been” or “there has been”? Both phrases sound natural, but they do not work in the same situations. The choice depends on the noun that follows the phrase. Understanding There Have Been or There Has Been will help you write clearer sentences, avoid grammar mistakes, and communicate with confidence.

Quick Answer

Use there has been when the noun that follows is singular or uncountable. Use there have been when the noun is plural. Both forms are grammatically correct, but the subject determines which one belongs in your sentence.

What Each Term Means

Both expressions use the present perfect tense. They describe something that happened in the past and still matters now, or something that has occurred during a period that continues into the present.

The main difference is subject-verb agreement, a rule also found in questions such as anyone has or anyone have.

What Does “There Has Been” Mean?

“There has been” introduces a singular noun or an uncountable noun. It tells the reader that one event, situation, or thing has occurred.

The word “has” agrees with a singular grammatical subject. Although “there” appears at the beginning, it does not determine the verb form.

Examples:

• There has been a delay in the delivery.
• There has been a change in the school schedule.
• There has been enough rainfall this month.
• There has been a misunderstanding between the neighbors.

In each sentence, the phrase introduces one situation or an amount that cannot be counted individually.

What Does “There Have Been” Mean?

“There have been” introduces plural countable nouns. It indicates that two or more events, people, objects, or situations have occurred.

The word “have” agrees with a plural subject.

Examples:

• There have been several complaints about the service.
• There have been three accidents on this road.
• There have been many improvements in the building.
• There have been unexpected changes in the timetable.

This form is useful when discussing multiple events or things that have appeared, happened, or existed.

The Core Rule, Explained Once

The central principle behind There Have Been or There Has Been is subject-verb agreement. In sentences beginning with “there,” the word “there” is an introductory word rather than the real subject. The noun or noun phrase that follows the verb determines whether you need “has” or “have.”

Consider these two sentences:

• There has been a problem with the printer.
• There have been problems with the printer.

The first sentence uses “has” because “a problem” is singular. The second uses “have” because “problems” is plural.

This rule becomes easier when you identify the noun phrase before choosing the verb. Do not let the word immediately before “has” or “have” confuse you.

Singular and Uncountable Nouns

Use “has been” with singular countable nouns and uncountable nouns.

Singular nouns refer to one person, object, event, or situation. Uncountable nouns refer to things that are not normally counted as separate units.

Examples include:

• Information
• Advice
• Equipment
• Progress
• Traffic
• Research

For instance:

• There has been considerable progress in the project.
• There has been some confusion about the instructions.

Although these nouns may describe large amounts, they take a singular verb in this construction.

Plural Nouns

Use “have been” when the noun phrase is plural.

Plural nouns describe more than one person, place, object, or event. Their endings often include an “s” or “es,” although some irregular nouns have different forms.

Examples:

• There have been several opportunities to improve.
• There have been children waiting outside.
• There have been difficulties during the renovation.

Pay attention to the meaning of the complete noun phrase rather than the length or complexity of the sentence.

Questions and Negative Sentences

The same agreement rule applies when you form questions or negative statements.

Examples:

• Has there been any progress?
• Have there been any updates?
• There has not been a response yet.
• There have not been enough volunteers.

Changing the sentence into a question or adding “not” does not change the agreement requirement.

Examples in Context

The following examples show how There Have Been or There Has Been works in everyday situations, including work, education, travel, shopping, and personal conversations.

1. Workplace: There has been a misunderstanding about the meeting time.
2. Education: There have been several changes to the examination schedule.
3. Travel: There has been heavy traffic near the airport.
4. Shopping: There have been many discounts on winter clothing.
5. Technology: There has been an improvement in the software’s performance.
6. Weather: There have been strong winds throughout the afternoon.
7. Healthcare: There has been an increase in patient visits this week.
8. Relationships: There have been a few disagreements between the friends.
9. Entertainment: There has been a new announcement about the concert.
10. Daily Life: There have been several unexpected visitors today.

Each example uses a different setting to show how the choice changes with the noun.

Common Mistakes

Even experienced writers sometimes mix up these expressions “There Have Been or There Has Been”. The following mistakes can help you recognize incorrect agreement and understand how to fix it.

1. Wrong: There have been a problem with my account.
Right: There has been a problem with my account.
Reason: “A problem” is singular.

2. Wrong: There has been many reasons to celebrate.
Right: There have been many reasons to celebrate.
Reason: “Reasons” is plural.

3. Wrong: There have been enough information in the report.
Right: There has been enough information in the report.
Reason: “Information” is an uncountable noun.

4. Wrong: There has been several messages from the manager.
Right: There have been several messages from the manager.
Reason: “Messages” refers to multiple items.

5. Wrong: There have been a lot of furniture in the room.
Right: There has been a lot of furniture in the room.
Reason: “Furniture” is uncountable, even when it describes several objects.

A useful way to avoid these errors is to identify the actual subject before writing the verb.

Tricky or Edge Cases

Some sentences are harder to judge because they contain additional words between the verb and the noun. Collective expressions, measurements, and lists can also make agreement less obvious.

Expressions with “several” and “the number of”

These phrases have different grammatical patterns:

• There have been several complaints about the new policy.
• There has been an increase in the number of complaints.

In the first sentence, “several” refers to multiple complaints. In the second, the main noun is “an increase,” which is singular.

Sentences with “and”

Two singular nouns joined by “and” usually form a plural subject.

– There have been a teacher and two students in the office.

However, when two words describe one combined idea or a single item, the meaning may affect agreement.

Amounts and measurements

When an amount is treated as one total, it can take a singular verb.

– There has been five kilometers of road damage.

Here, the distance is treated as one total measurement. Compare this with:

– There have been five separate reports about the road.

The noun phrase determines the appropriate form.

How to Remember It

Remember one simple trick: look at the noun after “been.”

• One thing? Use has been.
• More than one thing? Use have been.
• An uncountable noun? Usually use has been.

If you already understand year old vs years old, you know that small grammatical differences can change how a sentence works.

You can also remove the introductory word “there” mentally and focus on the real subject. This makes the correct verb easier to identify.

Which Is More Correct or More Common?

Neither expression is automatically better than the other. Both There Have Been or There Has Been are standard English constructions, and both are correct when used with the appropriate subject.

“There has been” is common when discussing one event, one change, or an uncountable amount. For example, a writer might use it when reporting a new development or describing a situation.

“There have been” is equally common when referring to multiple events or objects. News reports, workplace updates, academic writing, and everyday conversations regularly use this form.

Neither expression is more formal, more professional, or more natural in every situation. The correct choice depends on the noun that follows it.

This is a genuine grammatical distinction, not a regional preference. Using the wrong form can make a sentence sound awkward, especially in formal writing.

English also contains other easily confused word pairs, such as resignate or resonate, where understanding the grammatical role and meaning helps prevent mistakes.

Quick Reference Table

Use this table to compare the two expressions “ There Have Been or There Has Been” and choose the correct form quickly.

Grammar point	There Has Been	There Have Been
Singular nouns	Correct	Incorrect
Plural nouns	Incorrect	Correct
Uncountable nouns	Correct	Usually incorrect
One event	Correct	Incorrect
Multiple events	Incorrect	Correct
Example	There has been a delay.	There have been delays.
Question	Has there been a change?	Have there been changes?
Negative	There has not been a reply.	There have not been replies.

The table also shows how the verb changes when you turn a statement into a question or a negative sentence.

FAQs

Here are answers to common questions about these expressions, including their use in formal writing, questions, and everyday communication.

1. Is “There Have Been or There Has Been” the Correct Grammar?

Both forms are grammatically correct. Use “there has been” with singular or uncountable nouns and “there have been” with plural nouns.

2. Is It “There Has Been Many” or “There Have Been Many”?

“There have been many” is correct because “many” refers to a plural noun.

Example: There have been many opportunities to learn new skills.

3. Can I Use “There Has Been” With Uncountable Nouns?

Yes. Uncountable nouns generally take a singular verb in this construction.

Example: There has been enough evidence to support the claim.

4. Is “There Have Been” Present Perfect Tense?

Yes. It uses “have” with the past participle “been” to form the present perfect tense. It often describes past events that remain relevant to the present.

5. Can “There Has Been” Be Used in Formal Writing?

Yes. It is completely acceptable in academic, professional, and formal writing when the subject is singular or uncountable. The plural form is equally acceptable when the subject requires “have.”

Conclusion

Understanding There Have Been or There Has Been comes down to one essential grammar principle: the verb must agree with the real subject of the sentence. Use “there has been” for singular and uncountable nouns, while “there have been” belongs with plural nouns. Neither form is universally better, and both have an important place in everyday and professional English.

The next time you write an email, report, or social media post, take a moment to identify the noun before choosing your verb. Small grammar checks can make a noticeable difference in the clarity and quality of your writing. For more useful English comparisons, explore guides such as timeslot vs time slot and continue building stronger writing habits.