Was vs Have Been
Was and Have been should not be confused as the difference between was and have been is explicit in terms of their application and usage. The word was is an auxiliary verb, and it is the past tense form of the verb ‘is’. On the other hand, the word have been is used in the present perfect continuous form of any given verb with a plural subject for that matter. This is the main difference between the two words. Moreover, was is used with singular subjects while have been is used with plural subjects. This is a notable difference too between the two words.
What does Was mean?
The word was is an auxiliary verb and it is the past tense form of the verb ‘is.’ The verb is means exist. Observe the two sentences given below.
Francis was here last night.
Angela was rich once.
In both the sentences, you can find that the verb was used as the past tense form of the verb ‘is’. So, as a result, we know that we are speaking of completed actions in the past in these situations.
It is interesting to note that the auxiliary verb was is used in the passive voice too apart from being used in the past tense. Observe the two sentences given below.
The thief was beaten by the police.
James was asked by Robert.
In both the sentences, you can see that the auxiliary verb was is used in the passive voice along with the verbs ‘beaten’ and ‘asked’ respectively.
What does Have Been mean?
The word have been is used in the present perfect continuous form of any given verb with a plural subject. Now, when you use have been to construct present perfect continuous tense, you mean an action has been going on for some time. It continued from past to the present. Observe the two sentences given below.
I have been saying this for a long time.
The farmers have been cultivating these fields for generations.
In both the sentences, you can see that the usage have been is used as the present perfect continuous form of two different verbs, namely, saying and cultivating respectively. In the first sentence, it is used with the verb saying, and in the second sentence, it is used with the verb ‘cultivating’.
As have been is only used with plural subjects, the form have been can only be used in the case of first person and second person. It cannot be used in the case of the third person.
What is the difference between Was and Have Been?
• The word was is an auxiliary verb, and it is the past tense form of the verb ‘is’.
• On the other hand, the word have been is used in the present perfect continuous form of any given verb with a plural subject for that matter.
• Was is the past tense of is. Is means exist. Have been in the present perfect continuous tense gives the meaning an action continuing from the past to the present.
• As an auxiliary verb was is used in passive voice too.
• Have been can only be used with first and second persons.
These are the differences between was and have been.