There Has Been vs There Have Been: English Grammar Guide: Vocabulary, Context and Practice from the Episode

Master ‘there has been’ vs ‘there have been’ with clear examples. Learn vocabulary like ‘overdo.

Why There Has Been vs There Have Been Matters

This guide helps you practise there has been vs there have been with the episode’s real vocabulary, pronunciation points and examples. This episode of “The Show with No Name,”, marks the return to English studies following the Christmas, New Year, and Epiphany holidays.

There Has Been vs There Have Been: Fast Recap

The program focuses on combining cultural anecdotes about holiday indulgence with rigorous grammar practice and vocabulary building.

Key topics include mastering the Present Perfect with ‘There,’ using phrases like ‘to overdo it,’ and understanding common idioms.

What to Practise

• First, the verb ‘to bear’ can be used as a synonym for ‘to carry,’ such as in the phrase ‘to bear gifts’.
• Next, use the expression ‘bear with me’ to ask someone to be patient with you.
• Also, the phrase ‘to overdo it’ means to do or eat too much (pasarse).
• However, to ‘splurge’ means to spend more money than you normally intended to spend.
• Therefore, the expression ‘all to no avail’ describes a situation where efforts were made without success.

There Has Been vs There Have Been: Episode Roadmap

Understanding ‘To bear’

Uses cultural contexts (Epiphany) and legal language (‘right to bear arms’) to explain ‘to bear’ as a synonym for ‘to carry.’.

Overdoing Things (Pasarse)

Connects the Spanish idiom (‘pasarse’) to the English phrase ‘to overdo it,’ useful for describing excess in daily life, especially food or activity.

Returning to Routine (‘The Grind’)

Introduces ‘the grind’ as the standard idiom for returning to a work or study routine after a vacation.

Technical Terms (‘Glitch’, ‘Par for the course’)

Teaches technical vocabulary (‘glitch’) and an expected normal condition idiom (‘par for the course’), derived from golf.

Correcting Usage (To thrill)

Addresses common mistakes for Spanish speakers, teaching that ’emocionar’ is best translated as ‘to thrill,’ not ‘to emotionate.’.

Vocabulary Format (‘Listicles’)

Defines modern digital vocabulary. A ‘listicle’ is simply a mix of ‘list’ and ‘articles.’.

Key Ideas to Remember

• First, the verb ‘to bear’ can be used as a synonym for ‘to carry,’ such as in the phrase ‘to bear gifts’.
• Next, use the expression ‘bear with me’ to ask someone to be patient with you.
• Also, the phrase ‘to overdo it’ means to do or eat too much (pasarse).
• However, to ‘splurge’ means to spend more money than you normally intended to spend.
• Therefore, the expression ‘all to no avail’ describes a situation where efforts were made without success.
• Finally, returning to a work or study routine after a break is called getting ‘back to the grind’ or ‘the grindstone’.
• A ‘glitch’ is a term used to describe a technical issue or small error.
• Something that is normal or expected in a given situation is described as ‘par for the course’.
• A ‘pain in the tuchus’ or ‘pain in the neck’ refers to something very annoying.
• Deepen your mastery of a grammar structure by practicing it in four forms: affirmative, negative, interrogative, and indirect question.

There Has Been vs There Have Been: Vocabulary

English	Español	Note / Uso
To bear	Llevar / Portar	Used in contexts like ‘bearing gifts’ or ‘the right to bear arms’.
Bear with me	Ten paciencia conmigo / Sopórtame	Used when asking for patience, often translated by The episode as ‘portar’ or ‘soportar’ in context.
To overeat	Comer demasiado	Used specifically regarding holiday indulgence.
To overdo it	Pasarse	Linked to the Spanish expression ‘pasarse tres pueblos’.
To indulge	Darse el gusto	Refers to enjoying something, often in excess during holidays.
To splurge	Derrochar / Darse un homenaje	Specifically about spending more money than intended.
All to no avail	Sin mucha suerte ahí / En vano	Used to describe unsuccessful efforts, such as fixing a monitor.
Get back to business	Ponernos serios otra vez	Transitioning from vacation back to work mode.
Back to the grind / grindstone	De vuelta a la rutina	The standard expression for returning to work or study after a break.
Glitch	Fallo técnico	A small technical issue, specifically mentioned regarding a computer connection.
To bear (gifts/arms)	Llevar o portar (regalos/armas)	Used in formal or traditional contexts to mean carrying something, such as ‘the right to bear arms’.
Bear with me	Ten paciencia conmigo / Sopórtame	A polite request for someone to be patient while you deal with a problem or new situation.
To overdo it	Pasarse (tres pueblos)	To do something to an excessive degree, often used regarding eating or drinking during holidays.
To splurge	Derrochar / Darse un homenaje	To spend more money than you intended or normally would.
All to no avail	En vano / Sin mucha suerte	Used to describe efforts that were made but did not lead to any success.
Back to the grind / grindstone	De vuelta a la rutina / al tajo	Returning to a laborious daily routine or work after a break or holiday.
Kick things off	Empezar / Arrancar	To begin an event or process, such as a radio segment.
Glitch	Fallo técnico	A small, temporary technical problem or error in equipment.

Practice Ideas

Concept	Explanation	Why it matters
To bear	A synonym for ‘to carry’ (portar) often used in formal or traditional contexts like ‘bearing gifts.’ It also appears in the idiom ‘bear with me,’. This means to be patient with someone.	It is essential for understanding both formal legal language (e.g. the ‘right to bear arms’) and common polite requests in daily conversation.
To overdo it	An expression meaning to do something to an excessive degree (pasarse), specifically used in the episode to describe eating or drinking too much during the holidays.	It is a very natural and common way for native speakers to describe seasonal indulgence or over-exertion.
To splurge	To spend significantly more money than one normally would or intended to spend (derrochar).	This is a key vocabulary word for discussing shopping habits, holidays, and financial behavior.
The grind / The grindstone	A term for a repetitive or laborious daily routine, typically work or study, used in the phrase ‘back to the grind’.	It helps learners express the feeling of returning to a productive routine after a vacation or break.
Glitch	A term used to describe a small, temporary technical problem or error in a system or device.	In a technology-driven world, this is a vital word for describing common IT issues without needing overly technical language.
Listicles	A portmanteau of ‘list’ and ‘article’ referring to online content written in the form of a list (e.g. ‘Top 10’ lists).	It introduces modern digital-age vocabulary and identifies a specific type of accessible reading material for language learners.
There has been vs. There have been	A grammar rule where ‘there has been’ is used for singular or uncountable nouns (e.g. rain, money) and ‘there have been’ is used for plural nouns (e.g. problems, meetings).	This is a frequent area of confusion for learners who must ensure the verb agrees correctly with the noun in the present perfect tense.
Double Negatives	The grammatical error of using two negative words in one sentence (e.g. ‘nobody knows nothing’). Correct English requires ‘nobody knows anything’.	Avoiding double negatives is crucial for speaking grammatically correct, standard English, as these errors are often perceived as a lack of fluency.

Examples From the Episode

Source / Moment	Why it helps	Review cue
The Epiphany and Wise Men	Cultural context used to introduce the verb ‘to bear’ (portar) in the phrase ‘bearing gifts’.	Use this as context while reviewing the video.
US Constitution / Declaration of Independence	Formal usage of ‘to bear’ in the legal phrase ‘the right to bear arms’.	Use this as context while reviewing the video.
The year 2026	Fact: The specific year mentioned by The episode when wishing listeners a wonderful year ahead.	Use this as context while reviewing the video.
Samsung monitor ‘glitch’	Real-life technical troubleshooting used to teach the terms ‘glitch’ and ‘all to no avail’.	Use this as context while reviewing the video.
Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’	Mnemonic song reference used to help students remember the verb ‘to thrill’ (emocionar).	Use this as context while reviewing the video.
Vaughan Radio hosts Ale and Fitz	Names of colleagues whose programs (‘Speaking with Confidence’ and ‘No Excuses’) are recommended for extra practice.	Use this as context while reviewing the video.
Ozzy Osbourne and Oasis	Cultural references to famous figures with accents that are difficult even for native speakers to understand.	Use this as context while reviewing the video.
Sports Idiom Dialogue with Damian	Mini-dialogue containing the expressions ‘touch base’, ‘the way the ball bounces’, ‘ball’s in your court’, ‘kick off’, and ‘behind the 8-ball’.	Use this as context while reviewing the video.

Common Learner Traps

Watch out for	Why it matters	Better move
There has been vs. There have been	A grammar rule where ‘there has been’ is used for singular or uncountable nouns (e.g. rain, money) and ‘there have been’ is used for plural nouns (e.g. problems, meetings).	This is a frequent area of confusion for learners who must ensure the verb agrees correctly with the noun in the present perfect tense.

Try It Yourself

Use these prompts after reading the article. They are designed for active recall: say the answer aloud first, then check the tables above.

1. Explain this in your own words: The verb ‘to bear’ can be used as a synonym for ‘to carry,’ such as in the phrase ‘to bear gifts’.
2. Explain this in your own words: Use the expression ‘bear with me’ to ask someone to be patient with you.
3. Explain this in your own words: The phrase ‘to overdo it’ means to do or eat too much (pasarse).
4. Make one original sentence with “To bear” without starting from “Llevar / Portar” in Spanish.
5. Make one original sentence with “Bear with me” without starting from “Ten paciencia conmigo / Sopórtame” in Spanish.
6. Make one original sentence with “To overdo it” without starting from “Pasarse” in Spanish.

There Has Been vs There Have Been: Glossary

Term	Meaning / Spanish
To bear	Llevar / Portar
Bear with me	Ten paciencia conmigo / Sopórtame
To overdo it	Pasarse
To splurge	Derrochar / Darse un homenaje
All to no avail	Sin mucha suerte / En vano
Back to the grind	De vuelta a la rutina
Glitch	Fallo técnico
Par for the course	Lo normal / Lo esperado
Pain in the tuchus	Un engorro / Molestia en el trasero
To thrill	Emocionar
Cozy / Comfy	Cómodo
Listicles	Artículos en formato de lista

Questions Learners Ask

What does the expression 'back to the grind' mean?

The idiom 'back to the grind' or 'back to the grindstone' is used when returning to a laborious daily routine, work, or study after a holiday or break.

How do you correctly use 'there has been' versus 'there have been'?

Use 'there has been' (or the contraction 'there's been') with singular or uncountable nouns like rain or money. Use 'there have been' for plural nouns, such as meetings or problems.

What is the correct English verb for the Spanish word 'emocionar'?

The correct verb is 'to thrill.' English learners should avoid the common mistake 'to emotionate,'. This is a false friend and does not exist in English.

Why should English learners avoid using double negatives?

Double negatives, such as 'nobody knows nothing,' are technically incorrect in standard English. To be grammatically correct, you should use 'nobody knows anything'.

What is the difference between 'to splurge' and 'to overdo it'?

'To splurge' specifically refers to spending more money than intended. Meanwhile, 'to overdo it' means to do or eat something to an excessive degree, similar to the Spanish 'pasarse'.

What are 'listicles' and how can they help with language learning?

'Listicles' are articles written as lists (like 'Top 10' lists). They are useful for learners. Therefore, they provide accessible, easy-to-digest English content that aids in building fluency.

There Has Been vs There Have Been: Quick Quiz

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