Both “there has been” and “there have been” are correct. The right choice depends on the noun that follows the phrase.
Use “there has been” with singular or uncountable nouns, and use “there have been” with plural nouns. The verb must agree with the noun that comes after it, not with the introductory word there.
The word “there” acts as an adverb here — not the subject. That means the verb must agree with the noun that comes after it, not with there itself.
Why “There” Does Not Control the Verb
This is the part most people miss.
In sentences like “there has been” or “there have been,” the word “there” is a dummy subject — a placeholder that fills the sentence’s subject position without carrying real meaning. The true subject is the noun that appears after the verb.
- “There has been an error.” → the true subject is an error (singular) → use has
- “There have been several errors.” → the true subject is several errors (plural) → use have
The verb always agrees with the real noun — not with there.
When to Use “There Has Been”
Use “there has been” when the noun following the phrase is singular or uncountable.
A singular noun refers to one specific thing. An uncountable noun refers to a concept or substance that cannot be counted individually — like progress, time, confusion, or evidence.
Examples of “There Has Been” Used Correctly
- ✅ “There has been an accident on the highway.”
- ✅ “There has been a significant change in policy.”
- ✅ “There has been a lot of progress this quarter.”
- ✅ “There has been considerable confusion about the new rules.”
- ✅ “There has been no response from the team.”
In each sentence, the noun after the phrase is either one singular thing or an uncountable concept. Both take “has been.”
When to Use “There Have Been”
Use “there have been” when the noun following the phrase is plural — meaning more than one.
Examples of “There Have Been” Used Correctly
- ✅ “There have been several updates to the system.”
- ✅ “There have been many complaints from customers.”
- ✅ “There have been two accidents this month.”
- ✅ “There have been significant improvements in performance.”
- ✅ “There have been no major changes since last week.”
The plural noun after the phrase — updates, complaints, accidents, improvements — triggers “have been” every single time.
There Has Been vs There Have Been — Quick Comparison
Uncountable Nouns — A Common Source of Confusion
Many writers are confident with singular and plural nouns. Uncountable nouns are where mistakes happen most often.
Uncountable nouns in English cannot be made plural. They describe mass quantities, abstract ideas, or substances:
- progress, evidence, research, information, feedback, confusion, damage, growth, awareness, concern
All of these take “has been” — not “have been.”
- ✅ “There has been significant research done on this topic.”
- ✅ “There has been a lot of damage to the infrastructure.”
- ✅ “There has been growing concern among residents.”
- ❌ “There have been significant research done.” — research is uncountable → use has
- ❌ “There have been a lot of damage.” — damage is uncountable → use has
There Has Been and There Have Been in Formal Writing
Both phrases appear frequently in formal English — academic papers, business reports, news writing, and professional emails. Using the wrong form undermines credibility.
Business and Professional Communication
- ✅ “There have been several concerns raised by the board.”
- ✅ “There has been a noticeable increase in customer satisfaction.”
- ✅ “There have been multiple requests for an extension.”
Academic and News Writing
- ✅ “There has been considerable debate surrounding this issue.”
- ✅ “There have been three confirmed cases reported this week.”
- ✅ “There has been a surge in demand for renewable energy.”
In formal writing, subject-verb agreement signals precision and expertise. Getting this right builds trust with the reader.
Common Mistakes With There Has Been and There Have Been
Most errors happen with uncountable nouns — writers see a lot of or no before the noun and mistakenly treat it as plural.
A Simple Two-Step Test
When you are unsure which form to use, apply this quick test:
Step 1: Find the noun after the phrase. Ignore there.
Step 2: Ask — is it singular, uncountable, or plural?
- Singular or uncountable → there has been
- Plural → there have been
That is the entire rule. No exceptions.
FAQs — There Has Been or There Have Been
Is it “there has been” or “there have been”?
Both are correct. Use “there has been” for singular and uncountable nouns. Use “there have been” for plural nouns. The verb agrees with the noun after the phrase — not with there.
Why does the verb agree with the noun after “there” and not with “there” itself?
Because “there” is a dummy subject — a grammatical placeholder with no real meaning. The true subject is the noun that follows, so the verb must match that noun.
Is “there has been a lot of” correct?
Yes. “There has been a lot of” is correct when followed by an uncountable noun — for example, “there has been a lot of progress.” The phrase a lot of does not change the noun’s countability.
Can “there have been” be used with uncountable nouns?
No. Uncountable nouns always take “has been” — not “have been.” Words like progress, evidence, research, damage, and information are uncountable and require the singular verb form.
Which is more common in everyday American English?
Both are common — their frequency depends on context. “There have been” appears more often in news and reporting because plural developments, events, and incidents are frequently discussed. “There has been” is more common when discussing concepts, trends, and individual events.
Conclusion
“There has been” and “there have been” follow one consistent rule: the verb matches the noun that follows — not the word there. Singular and uncountable nouns take “has been,” plural nouns take “have been.”
When you are unsure, find the real noun, check whether it is singular, uncountable, or plural, and let that answer guide your verb. That single habit keeps your subject-verb agreement accurate every time.
Hi, I’m the voice behind GrammarThat.com. I make grammar simple and easy to understand, from basic rules to advanced writing tips. Clear explanations. Practical examples. No confusion.