Present perfect or past simple for a recent event
If I have been in hospital for 2 weeks and I have just returned home, I say "I have been in hospital for 2 weeks". It is a recent event. After I have been home for a few days I will probably say "I was in hospital for 2 weeks", because some time has passed, those 2 weeks are in the past. My question is: how much time should pass before you switch from present perfect to past simple? This is a grey area I find quite difficult.
Top answer
olive file 673 If I have been in hospital for 2 weeks and I have just returned home, I say "I have been in hospital for 2 weeks". It is a recent event. After I have been home for a few days I will probably say "I was in hospital for 2 weeks", because some time has passed, those 2 weeks are in the past.
- olive file 673 If I have been in hospital for 2 weeks and I have just returned home, I say "I have been in hospital for 2 weeks".
- It is a recent event.
- After I have been home for a few days I will probably say "I was in hospital for 2 weeks", because some time has passed, those 2 weeks are in the past.
- My question is: how much time should pass before you switch from present perfect to past simple?
- This is a grey area I find quite difficult.
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olive file 673If I have been in hospital for 2 weeks and I have just returned home, I say "I have been in hospital for 2 weeks". It is a recent event. After I have been home for a few days I will probably say "I was in hospital for 2 weeks", because some time has passed, those 2 weeks are in the
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