Have Been, Has Been, Had Been – Explained with Examples (PDF)
If you’ve been wondering about the difference between “had been,” “has been,” and “have been”, this guide simplifies their usage with clear explanations and examples. At the end of the article, you’ll also find a mini quiz and downloadable PDF exercises.
Quick Overview
- Had been: Refers to something that started and ended in the past. It’s used in the past perfect tense.
- Have been and has been: Describe actions that began in the past and continue into the present, or have just been completed. These are used in the present perfect tense.
1. “Had Been” – Past Perfect Tense
“Had been” is used to describe actions that:
- Started in the past,
- Continued for some time, and
- Ended before another specific past event.
Key Points:
- Used with all subjects (I, you, he, she, it, we, they).
- Highlights actions completed before another past event.
Examples:
→ They had been practicing for hours before the game started.
→ The children had been excited about the trip until it was canceled.
Tip: Always think of two past events. “Had been” describes the first one that happened and ended before the second began.
2. “Has Been” and “Have Been” – Present Perfect Tense
Both describe actions that:
- Started in the past
- Continue into the present or have recently ended
Usage:
- Has been: For third-person singular subjects (he, she, it).
- Have been: For I, you, we, they, and plural nouns.
Examples:
Has been:
→ The dog has been barking all night.
→ She has been studying hard for her exams.
Have been:
→ We have been planning the event for weeks.
→ I have been waiting for you since morning.
Quick Reference Table
| Tense | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Has been | He, she, it, singular nouns | He has been working since 8 AM. |
| Have been | I, you, we, they, plural nouns | They have been traveling for hours. |
| Had been | All subjects, past perfect | She had been reading before the lights went out. |
How to Use It Correctly
Has Been & Have Been
- Use have been with: I, you, we, they, and plural subjects.
- Use has been with: he, she, it, and singular subjects.
Examples:
→ I have been studying all day.
→ He has been working on this project for months.
→ The children have been playing outside since morning.
Had Been
Used in the past perfect tense for actions completed before another past event. Applies to all subjects.
Examples:
→ They had been living in New York before they moved to California.
→ She had been feeling ill before the doctor arrived.
Mini Quiz – Practice Time!
Complete the sentences using has been, have been, or had been:
- He ______ (work) at the company since 2010.
- They ______ (study) for hours before the exam started.
- I ______ (wait) here all morning.
- She _______ lived in New York for five years before moving to Los Angeles.
- You _______ been very helpful throughout this project.
Answer Key:
1. has been working
2. had been studying
3. have been waiting
4. had been living
5. have been
👉 Take the interactive quiz here
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Can “have been” and “has been” be used for the same situations?
A: Yes, both refer to actions that started in the past and are still relevant. The subject determines which one to use.
Q2: What’s the main difference between “had been” and “have/has been”?
A: “Had been” is used for completed actions before another past event. “Have/has been” refers to ongoing or recently completed actions.
Q3: Is there a downloadable version of this guide?
A: Yes! You can download both the lesson and exercise PDFs below.
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Can u please send me more exercise ? Do you have pdf?
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Great post. Learned a lot in short time!
Please help.
The following sentence needs to be in the passive voice.
My bag had been stolen when I was on my way home. The thief was arrested shortly after. Is this correct? Or should it be “has been stolen” or “was stolen” Thanks
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It made me understand the concept very well , but would we nice if we get a chance to check our answers
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GOOD EXP
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very helpful..also .like the way you identified examples
Thanks for the lesson. I learnt how to use have been, has been, had been easily!
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Finally I have learned the difference between has been, had been, have been. Nice!
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Has been is correct
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Happy to help! 🙂
would make more sense if it had the result
Are you sure? The action hapoened and finished in the past. I mean, “when I WAS on my way home”, is the past simple. So, shouldn’t it be HAD BEEN?