there has not been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "there has not been" is correct and is often used in written English.
You can use it when describing something that has not occurred in the past. For example, "There has not been any progress on the project since last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

But getting there has not been easy.

The New York Times

There has not been one.

The Economist

There has not been any.

The Economist

There has not been one recorded sighting".

Independent

There has not been a word.

The New York Times

"There has not been decommissioning.

The New York Times

There has not been much success.

The New York Times

But there has not been one.

The Guardian - Sport

There has not been another since.

The New York Times

There has not been critical consensus, however.

The Guardian

There has not been one, says Dorries.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "there has not been", ensure the tense aligns with the context. For ongoing situations, the present perfect is suitable, while the past tense suits completed events.

Common error

Avoid using singular verbs with plural subjects after the phrase. For example, avoid "There has not been many changes"; instead, use "There have not been many changes".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there has not been" functions as an existential construction expressing the absence or non-existence of something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. It indicates that something has not occurred or existed up to the present moment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "there has not been" is a versatile phrase used to indicate the absence or lack of something. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used, especially in news and media, and scientific publications. To ensure correct usage, maintain subject-verb agreement and choose alternative expressions depending on the specific context, such as "there hasn't been", "there was no", or "there is a lack of". Its neutral register makes it suitable for both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there hasn't been

Contraction of "has not" to "hasn't" for a more informal tone.

there was no

Uses past tense "was" to indicate absence in the past.

there is a lack of

Emphasizes the deficiency of something.

nothing has been

Highlights that no action has occurred.

it hasn't happened

Focuses on the event not occurring.

it didn't exist

Highlights non-existence in the past.

no one has

Emphasizes the absence of a person doing something.

nobody has

Similar to "no one has" but slightly more informal.

it remains undone

Emphasizes something not completed.

it's still pending

Indicates that something is awaiting.

FAQs

How can I use "there has not been" in a sentence?

Use "there has not been" to indicate the absence or lack of something. For example, "There has not been any rain this month."

What are some alternatives to "there has not been"?

You can use alternatives like "there hasn't been", "there was no", or "there is a lack of" depending on the context.

Is "there has not been" formal or informal?

"There has not been" is generally considered neutral and appropriate for both formal and informal contexts. Contractions like "there hasn't been" are more informal.

What's the difference between "there has not been" and "there have not been"?

"There has not been" is used with singular nouns, while "there have not been" is used with plural nouns. For example, "There has not been a single incident" vs. "There have not been any incidents".