Which one is correct?
"have been late" or "has been late"?

Question

Which one is correct?
"have been late" or "has been late"?

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Use "have been late" when referring to plural subjects that have been late in the past.

Examples:

They have been late to practice all week.
We have been late to the movies every time.
You have been late to class frequently.

Alternatives:

have been delayed
have arrived late
have been tardy

Use "has been late" when referring to a singular subject that has been late in the past.

Examples:

He has been late to work every day this week.
She has been late to the meetings consistently.
It has been late for the past few days.

Alternatives:

has been delayed
has arrived late
has been tardy

Both "has been late" and "have been late" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Has been late" is used with singular subjects (he, she, it), while "have been late" is used with plural subjects (they, we, you).

Last Updated: March 20, 2024

Answer 1

have been late

This phrase is correct when used with plural subjects (they, we, you).

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Answer 2

has been late

This phrase is correct when used with singular subjects (he, she, it).

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Which one is correct? "have been late" or "has been late"?

have been late

has been late

Related Comparisons

Which one is correct?
"have been late" or "has been late"?