have been changes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have been changes" is not correct in standard written English.
It should be used in a context where you are indicating that changes have occurred over a period of time, typically in the form "there have been changes." Example: "In recent months, there have been changes in the management structure of the company."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yet there have been changes.

The New York Times

But there have been changes.

The New Yorker

There have been changes while we slept".

The New York Times

Nonetheless there have been changes.

The New York Times - Arts

There have been changes aplenty.

The Guardian - Sport

There have been changes since Sept. 11.

The New York Times

There have been changes for the better.

The Guardian - Opinion

Even there, though, there have been changes.

The New York Times - Science

There have been changes at Russ & Daughters.

The New York Times - Books

There have been changes at the state level.

The New York Times

There have been changes in the waiting-list law.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When indicating changes, prefer the construction "there have been changes" for grammatical correctness.

Common error

Ensure the subject and verb agree in number. "Changes have been" is correct when "changes" is the subject. However, when indicating existence, use "there have been changes".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been changes" is grammatically incorrect. It lacks the necessary introductory element, typically 'there,' to indicate the existence of changes. As Ludwig AI indicates, the correct phrasing is "there have been changes".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Academia

2%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "have been changes" appears frequently in various sources, it is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "there have been changes". This analysis, informed by Ludwig AI, highlights the importance of proper grammatical structure while acknowledging common usage patterns. The phrase's presence across diverse sources like The New York Times and BBC indicates its attempted function of indicating the occurrence of modifications or alterations, despite its grammatical flaws. Therefore, while the phrase is widely used, it is advisable to use the grammatically correct version.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there have been modifications

Emphasizes specific alterations or adjustments made.

there have been adjustments

Focuses on the adaptation or fine-tuning of something.

there have been alterations

Highlights the changes as being distinct from the original state.

changes have occurred

A more formal and general way of stating that changes have happened.

there have been shifts

Implies a change in direction or emphasis.

the situation has evolved

Suggests a gradual development or transformation.

things have transformed

Indicates a significant and dramatic change.

modifications have been implemented

Highlights the active application of changes.

adjustments have been made

Focuses on the completion of the adaptation process.

the landscape has changed

Implies a broad and comprehensive alteration of the overall context or environment.

FAQs

How to properly use the phrase "have been changes" in a sentence?

The correct way to express that changes have occurred is to use the phrase "there have been changes". For example, "There have been changes to the policy". The original form is considered grammatically incorrect.

What is a grammatically correct alternative to "have been changes"?

A grammatically sound alternative is "there have been changes". Other options include "changes have occurred", or "modifications have been made".

Which is correct, "have been changes" or "there have been changes"?

"There have been changes" is the grammatically correct option. "Have been changes" lacks the necessary introductory element to function properly in a sentence.

What’s the difference between "have been changes" and "changes have been"?

"Changes have been" implies that changes are the subject, typically followed by a verb describing what has been done to them (e.g., "changes have been implemented"). "There have been changes" indicates that changes exist or have taken place.