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Coincidence Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

I have been / I was

Hello,
Could you please tell me which tense would be better in the example below:

Your friend has disappeared for a few weeks. Suddenly you see him in the street, you are asking:

Tom, where have you been?
I have been in a forest.

He is no longer in the forest, should we say then :
I was in a forest.

What about :
I have been in a forest for 2 weeks.
I was in a forest for 2 weeks.

As present perfect is used, among others, for recent actions or actions which have just stopped, I think present perfect could be used here. Past simple would be maybe more natural for American English speakers?

Thank you for your help! Emotion: smile
Kind regards.
  

Top answer

Tom, where have you been? I have been in a forest. I was in a forest.

— Mister Micawber

  • Tom, where have you been?
  • I have been in a forest.
  • I was in a forest.
  • I have been in a forest for the last 2 weeks.
  • I was in a forest for 2 weeks.
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4 Answers
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Tom, where have you been?

I have been in a forest.
I was in a forest.
I have been in a forest for the last 2 weeks.
I was in a forest for 2 weeks.

All OK.
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Thank you!

I'd have a question about 'the last 2 weeks'
Do we use it here to stress that the action has finished and we are no longer there (in the forest
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I have been in a forest for 2 weeks.-- ending before this week.
I have been in a forest for the last 2 weeks.-- ending this week
I was in a forest for the last 2 weeks.-- OK
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