GREEN for RIGHT
RED for WRONG
Some people say:
There has been accidents near the park. (or There ‘s been accidents near the park.)
instead of
There have been accidents near the park. (or There ‘ve been accidents near the park.)
Take note that the two words there & has can be joined up to make one word there’s, and that there & have can become there’ve. When two words become one, an apostrophe is inserted in the position where a letter has been omitted or where letters have been omitted. Only one apostrophe is needed, irrespective of the number of letter omissions when two words are contracted into one word.
Looks familiar? For whatever reason, there seems to be followed nowadays by the SINGULAR VERB and the PLURAL NOUN. As the word accidents is a PLURAL NOUN, it should be preceded with a PLURAL VERB in this sentence. As explained already in the lessons on is & are / was & were, when these words follow on from There, there must be harmony between the VERB & the NOUN in terms of SINGULAR NOUN/SINGULAR VERB and PLURAL NOUN/PLURAL VERB.
There has been scary films on television all week.
There have been scary films on television all week.
There has been arguments between them since they returned home.
There have been arguments between them since they returned home.
There has been houses put up for sale regularly in that estate.
There have been houses put up for sale regularly in that estate.
In the past, there has been too many cars parked too close to the pedestrian crossing.
In the past, there have been too many cars parked too close to the pedestrian crossing.
Overnight, there has been heavy snowfalls in Leinster.
Overnight, there have been heavy snowfalls in Leinster.
There’s been fights outside the chipper already.
There’ve been fights outside the chipper already.
TEST: Write has/’s or have/’ve in these sentences:
1. There ______ been repeats of that programme all summer long.
2. There ______ been superb performances by the orchestra all year.
3. There ______ been record low temperatures this winter.
4. There ______ been no incidents of misbehaviour in the playground this morning.
5. There ______ been widespread power blackouts in Munster tonight.
6. There ______ been curfews in place in all the big cities.
7. There ______ been counterfeit tickets on sale outside the stadium.
8. There ______ been accusations of fraud since he was elected.
9. There ______ been many examples of good sportsmanship in the tournament.
10. There ______ been major delays there since the traffic lights were installed.
11. There ______ been chances at both ends.
12. There ______ been long queues all day.
13. There ______ been wild celebrations all over the county since the final.
14. There ______ been devastating floods in those low-lying areas since November.
15. There ______ been times when I thought that I wouldn’t perform on stage.
16. There ______ been changes in the full-back line throughout the season.
17. There ______ been numerous reports of looting.
18. There ______ been regular sightings of U.F.Os in America.
19. _____ there been roadblocks in place on the flyover since the incident?
20. _____ there been a roadblock in place on the flyover since the incident?
ANSWERS: 1 to 18. have or ‘ve 19. Have 20. Has
KEY ELEMENT OF LESSON: Keep the VERB happy. Make sure it’s in a harmonious number relationship with the NOUN.
RESULT: A happy and successful partnership!
DON’T FORGET:
There has been an accident near the park. (SINGULAR NOUN accident & SINGULAR COMPOUND VERB has been)
Has there been an accident near the park?
There have been accidents near the park. (PLURAL NOUN accidents & PLURAL COMPOUND VERB have been)
Have there been accidents near the park?
Has there been accidents near the park?
GREEN for RIGHT
RED for WRONG