Understanding the Difference Between “Have Been,” “Has Been,” and “Had Been” (PDF)

If you have been wondering about the difference between “had been,” “has been,” and “have been,” this guide clarifies their correct usage with simple example sentences.

What Is the Difference Between “Have Been,” “Has Been,” and “Had Been”?

Here’s an easy way to see how they differ:

• Had been refers to something that started and ended in the past.
• Have been and has been refer to something that began in the past and continues into the present or was recently completed.
• Had been refers to something that started and ended in the past. It indicates that the action was completed before another past event or specific time.

We use “has been” with singular subjects (e.g., he, she, it). “Have been” is used with plural subjects and the pronouns I, we, and they.

As mentioned above, “had been” is used in the past perfect tense to describe actions that were completed before a certain point in the past. It applies to all pronouns and subjects, whether singular or plural.

• Has been:
  The dog has been barking all night.
  (The barking started earlier and is still happening or just finished.)
• Have been:
  We have been planning the event for weeks.
  (The planning started in the past and is still ongoing.)
• Had been:
  They had been practicing for hours before the game started.
  (The practice was completed before the game began.)

Quick Reference Table

How to Use  Them?

“Have been” and “has been” are used in the present perfect tense. They describe actions that began in the past and either continue into the present or were recently completed.

• “Have been” and “has been” indicate that the action started in the past and is ongoing in the present.
  • Use “have been” when the subject is I, you, we, they, or a plural noun (e.g., cars, birds, children).
  • Use “has been” when the subject is he, she, it, or a singular noun (e.g., car, bird, child).

When referring to actions in the past, regardless of the subject (I, you, he, she, it, we, they), use “had been”.

• “Had been” indicates an action that started and was completed in the past, before another specific point in time.

• “Have been”: We have been waiting for the bus for 30 minutes. (The waiting started in the past and is still happening.)
• “Has been”: She has been studying hard for her exams. (The studying started in the past and continues now.)
• “Had been”: They had been living in New York before they moved to California. (Living in New York happened and finished before they moved.)

Past Perfect Tense: “Had Been”

“Had been” is used in the past perfect tense to describe an action that started in the past, continued for some time, and ended before another action took place.

“Had been”: Used with all subjects (I, you, he, she, it, we, they).

Examples

1. Example: They had been talking for over an hour before Maryam arrived. (The talking started, continued for an hour, and then ended when Maryam arrived.)
2. Example: The children had been excited about the trip until it was canceled. (The excitement started, lasted until the cancellation, and then ended.)

Remember:

⇒”Had been”: Always think about two events – the first one that was ongoing and finished before the second event occurred.

Test Your Understanding

Try this interactive quiz to test your understanding of “has been,” “have been,” and “had been”:

1. He ______ (work) at the company since 2010.
2. They ______ (study) for hours before the exam started.
3. I ______ (wait) here all morning.
4. She ______ (live) in New York for five years before moving to Los Angeles.
5. You ______ (be) very helpful throughout this project.

Check your answers:

1. has been working / 2.had been studying / 3. have been waiting / 4. had been living/ 5. have been

You can also take a short quiz on the difference between Have Been, Has Been, Had Been here.

Frequently Asked Questions

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 continue into the present. However, “have been” is for plural or first/second-person pronouns (I, you, we, they), while “has been” is for third-person singular pronouns (he, she, it).

Q2: What’s the biggest difference between “had been” and “have been/has been”?
A: “Had been” is for actions that ended in the past, while “have been” and “has been” describe actions continuing into the present.

Q3: Can I download a PDF version of this guide?
A: Yes! You can download a PDF version of this explanation with more exercises down below.

Have Been, Has Been, Had Been Exercises

Have been, has been, had been difference with exercises and example sentences.

Have Been, Has Been, Had Been Exercise PDF – download

Have Been, Has Been, Had Been Lesson with Examples PDF – download