Difference between "was" and "has been"

Question

What is the difference between "was" and "has been"

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

AnonymousWhat is the difference between "was" and "has been"

was - simple past, singular 1st/3rd person (irregular) of be.

has been - present perfect, singular person of be.

These are used in progressive tenses:

He has been singing in the shower for the past hour.

He was singing in the shower yesterday.

I am sad to see him go, he has been a good neighbor to me.

He lived next door five years ago. He was a good neighbor.

He travels a lot. He has been in Italy five times this year already.

He was in Italy last month for a week.

Obaidtariq · Answer

'Was' represents part progressive tense in the english grammar tenses.

The past progressive puts emphasis on the course of an action in the past action going on at a certain time in the past
actions taking place at the same time action in the past that is interrupted by another action.

'Has Been' is used in past perfect progressive tense.

The present perfect progressive expresses an action that recently stopped or is still going on. It puts emphasis on the duration or course of the action.Putting emphasis on the course or duration (not the result) action that recently stopped or is still going on finished action that influenced the present.

Regards !

Dave Sparrow · Answer

In the grammar aspect, 'was' is used to describe events in the past, usually at an exact time and this action is not related to the present time : I was in India in 2003.

'have been' is used to descibe events which:

-happened in the past without the time:

I have been to India 3 times.

-happened in the past up to now with a point or length of time:

I have been in Australia since I got married.

I have been in Scotland for 3 years.

Well there are one or two more points but I can't remember. I'm gonna check the grammar book.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

It might help to consider the meaning of these simple, concrete examples.

My car was stolen, in 1975. Simply tells about an event at some point in the past. Does not indicate any relevance to the present.

My car has been stolen. Tells about an event at some unspecified time in the past. Suggests that there is some relevance to the present. eg Now I can't drive to work.

Clive

Difference between "was" and "has been"

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