Has been vs Have been
When it comes to verbs, because of the very slight difference has been and have been, people tend to confuse these two verbs in usage. It is indeed true that both of them are used in the present perfect continuous tense. One of the main differences between their usages is that has been is used in the present perfect continuous tense forms of the third person singular nouns. On the other hand, have been is used in the present perfect continuous tense forms of the first person and the second person as well as with plural nouns.
What does Has Been mean?
The word has been is used in the present perfect continuous tense with third person singular nouns. Observe the sentences given below:
He has been singing from the morning.
She has been driving her car since morning.
In both the sentences, you can find that the form has been is used in the present perfect continuous tense in the case of the third person; namely, he and she, respectively. Also, you must note that he and she are both third person singular pronouns. The form has been is sometimes used in the sense of ‘went’ or ‘came’ as in the sentences given below.
She has been to London.
Harry has been to his grand parents’ house.
What does Have Been mean?
On the other hand, look at the usage of the form have been. Have been is used in the present perfect continuous tense in the case of the first person and the second person as in the examples given below:
I have been reading this book for a year.
You have been coming late to my class.
In both the sentences given above, you can find that the form have been is used in the present perfect continuous tense in the case of the first person and second person; namely, I and You, respectively. Moreover, have been is also used with plural nouns of the third person. Look at the following examples.
They have been waiting there since morning.
Crows have been feeding on that carcass since yesterday.
Both crows and they are third person plural nouns. Therefore, one can say that have been is used for third person plural nouns as well. The form have been is sometimes used in the sense of ‘went’ or ‘came’ as in the sentences given below.
I have been to London a few times.
You have been to my house before.
In the first sentence, the form ‘have been’ is used in the sense of ‘went’, and in the second sentence the form ‘have been’ is used in the sense of ‘came’.
What is the difference between Has Been and Have Been?
• Has been is used in the present perfect continuous tense with third person singular nouns.
• Have been is used in the present perfect continuous tense forms of the first person and the second person as well as with plural nouns.
• Has been and have been are sometimes used to mean ‘went’ or ‘came.’
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