Difference in meaning between [was embarrassed] and [have been embarrassed]
(1) I was embarrassed by my colleagues a few times when I was working at ABC.
(2) I have been embarrassed by my colleagues a few times when I was working at ABC.
Some of my non-native English speaking friends think (2) is not correct because the tenses in the sentence are different. The present perfect "have been embarrassed" in the independent clause and the past continuous "was working" in the dependent clause make the sentence grammatically wrong.
(A) My other friends think (2) is okay. I don't understand how "was embarrassed" and "have been embarrassed" change the meaning of the sentence. Please clarify this.
(B) Does the simple continuous in the dependent clause "when I was working ..." suggest that you are not working for ABC anymore? If so, how do you revise the sentence to show that you are still working there.
Please answer my questions because I am completely puzzled. I greatly appreciate your time and help. Many thanks.
Top answer
ansonguy (1) I was embarrassed by my colleagues a few times when I was working at ABC. (2) I have been embarrassed by my colleagues a few times when I was working at ABC. (2) is a faulty sentence.
- ansonguy (1) I was embarrassed by my colleagues a few times when I was working at ABC.
- (2) I have been embarrassed by my colleagues a few times when I was working at ABC.
- (2) is a faulty sentence.
- As some of your friends said, the tenses are mismatched.
- (1) is OK.
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ansonguy(1) I was embarrassed by my colleagues a few times when I was working at ABC.
(2) I have been embarrassed by my colleagues a few times when I was working at ABC.
(2) is a faulty sentence. As some of your friends said, the tenses are mismatched. (1) is OK.
ansonguy(B) Does the simple continuous in the dependent clause
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