Grammar – Difference Between ‘There has been’ vs ‘There had been’

Both sets of sentences are correct, the difference between them is the meaning.

Now this difference is a little hard to explain, but I will do my best.

The verb 'to have' conjugates in the present as 'have' or 'has':

• I, you, we, they, you all = Have
• he, she, it = Has

In the past, it conjugates as 'had' for everyone.

Now when it comes to questions starting with 'to have', asking if someone has done something, they are asking about one of two situations, each with it's own meaning.

When you use 'had' (past tense), then you are asking about any time up to a specific moment in the past.

Had you run a marathon?

Meaning "At any time up until that moment in the past, did you run a marathon?", or "Did you run a marathon by then?"

When you use 'have' or 'have', you're asking about any moment up until right now.

Have you run a marathon?

Meaning "At any time up until now, did you run a marathon?", or "Did you run a marathon by now?"

The difference between the two is the limit of the time asked about. When you ask using the past tense of 'to have', then the limit is referring to a specific moment in the past. When you ask using the present tense of 'to have', then the limit is this very moment, now.

• Have, has = "up until now"
• Had = "up until then"

I hope that helps!

They were fortunate enough to escape injury when their car crashed.

They were lucky to the degree that they escaped injury at or during or just after the time that their car crashed. [If they were any LESS lucky, they would have been injured.]

They were fortunate to escape injury when their car crashed.

They were lucky to escape injury at or during or just after the time that their car crashed.

Does this mean they escaped injury because they are were fortunate or does it mean they were fortunate because they had escaped injury?

Does this mean they escaped injury for the reason that they are were fortunate or does it mean they were fortunate for the reason that they had escaped injury?

They were fortunate because they escaped injury, and they escaped injury because they were fortunate. My head touches the ceiling because my ceiling touches my head.