Have Been vs Had Been | Full Grammar Guide with Examples

English learners often get confused between “have been” and “had been.” Both are forms of the verb to be, but they are used in different tenses. Knowing the difference helps you write and speak more clearly.

This guide explains the definition, rules, examples, and quizzes so you can confidently use these phrases.

Have Been vs Had Been: Definitions

Have Been

• Used in the present perfect tense.

• Describes actions that started in the past and continue now or recently finished.

Example: I have been studying English for two years.

Had Been

• Used in the past perfect tense.

• Describes actions that started and ended in the past, before another past event.

Example: She had been working at the company before it closed.

Have Been vs Has Been vs Had Been

• Have Been → used with I, you, we, they.
  We have been waiting for the bus.

• Has Been → used with he, she, it.
  He has been playing football since morning.

• Had Been → used with all subjects, but in past perfect tense.
  They had been living in New York before moving to London.

Rules of Have Been and Had Been

When to Use “Have Been”

• Action started in the past and still continues.

• Action completed recently with present impact.

Examples

• I have been working here since 2019.

• You have been very kind to me.

When to Use “Had Been”

• Action started in the past and finished before another past action.

• Used for background context in storytelling.

Examples

• She had been teaching for 10 years before she retired.

• It had been raining before we left the house.

Have Been vs Had Been Examples

Have Been Examples (Present Perfect Tense)

Use when an action started in the past and continues now or has a present perfect effect:

1. I have been exercising daily.

2. They have been busy with exams.

3. We have been learning English for months.

4. She has been waiting for the train since morning.

5. You have been very helpful during this project.

Had Been Examples (Past Perfect Tense)

Use when an action happened before another past event:

1. He had been exercising before he fell sick.

2. The team had been practicing hard before the match.

3. I had been reading a book when the power went out.

4. She had been living in Paris before moving to London.

5. They had been working all day before the meeting started.

Have Been and Had Been in Continuous Tenses

Both are often used in continuous tense structures:

• Present Perfect Continuous:
  I have been exercising for 30 minutes.

• Past Perfect Continuous:
  I had been exercising before my friend arrived.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ I had been here since morning. (Wrong – action continues now → should be have been.)
✅ I have been here since morning.

❌ I have been studying before dinner yesterday. (Wrong – action already finished → should be had been.)
✅ I had been studying before dinner yesterday.

Quick Quiz: Test Yourself

1. Which is correct?
   a) I have been finished my homework.
   b) I have been doing my homework.

2. Which is correct?
   a) She had been working there before moving abroad. 
   b) She have been working there before moving abroad.

Answer

1. b
2. a

Fill in the Blanks: Have Been vs Had Been

1. They ____ studying for hours before the exam started.

2. I ____ waiting for the bus since 7 AM.

3. She ____ working at that company before it closed.

4. We ____ learning English for three years now.

5. He ____ exercising daily until he got injured.

Answers:

1. had been

2. have been

3. had been

4. have been

5. had been

Summary Table: Have Been vs Had Been

Conclusion

The difference between “have been” and “had been” comes down to time:

• Use have been for things still happening or with present relevance.

• Use had been for things that were true in the past but ended before another past event.

Mastering this will make your English more clear, accurate, and professional.