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TomJ Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Q38: Is it correct to use 'have been' here, please? Or should I use some other tense?
Hi,
The context is: I was chatting with somebody on facebook. And I had to go to the wash-room in the middle of the conversation.
After a while when I returned, I saw her message, and worte 'Sorry to have kept you waiting. 'I've been to wash-room.' to her.
I'd like to ask you if I was correct in saying 'I've been to wash-room'. Should I have said something else instead? For example, would it have been OK if I had said 'Sorry to have kept you waiting. I went to the wash-room.'? Or 'Sorry to have kept you waiting. I had gone to the wash-room.'?
Thank you.
The context is: I was chatting with somebody on facebook. And I had to go to the wash-room in the middle of the conversation.
After a while when I returned, I saw her message, and worte 'Sorry to have kept you waiting. 'I've been to wash-room.' to her.
I'd like to ask you if I was correct in saying 'I've been to wash-room'. Should I have said something else instead? For example, would it have been OK if I had said 'Sorry to have kept you waiting. I went to the wash-room.'? Or 'Sorry to have kept you waiting. I had gone to the wash-room.'?
Thank you.
Top answer
TomJ I'd like to ask you if I was correct in saying 'I've been to wash-room'. No. TomJ .
- TomJ I'd like to ask you if I was correct in saying 'I've been to wash-room'.
- No.
- TomJ .
- Should I have said something else instead?
- You should have simply apologized for the delay with no explanation.
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5 Answers
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TomJI'd like to ask you if I was correct in saying 'I've been to wash-room'.No.
TomJ. Should I have said something else instead?You should have simply apologized for the delay with no explanation. Toilet matters are not to be discussed on such a venue.
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OK, Mister Micawber. Thank you very much for replying!
But if the venue had been different, not the toilet, which of those sentences would have been appropriate? I just would like to know which tense is correct to use in a situation like that, for example, when we want to let somebody know where we were or when it's important for us to tell somebody that thing.
For example, if I
But if the venue had been different, not the toilet, which of those sentences would have been appropriate? I just would like to know which tense is correct to use in a situation like that, for example, when we want to let somebody know where we were or when it's important for us to tell somebody that thing.
For example, if I
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TomJFor example, if I say 'I have been to the market', does it mean that I went there, but now have returned and I'm no loger in the market?That's right.
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I'd like to ask you one more thing if you have some more time to spare for me, please.
If I say "I was in the market", it also means the same thing as "I've been to the market". Then, what's the difference between 'I was in the market" and "I've been to the market", please? Do they have the same meaning? Could we use them interchangeably?
Also, in what sort of situation would we
If I say "I was in the market", it also means the same thing as "I've been to the market". Then, what's the difference between 'I was in the market" and "I've been to the market", please? Do they have the same meaning? Could we use them interchangeably?
Also, in what sort of situation would we
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TomJIf I say "I was in the market", it also means the same thing as "I've been to the market"Yes.
TomJThen, what's the difference between 'I was in the market" and "I've been to the market", please? Do they have the same meaning? Could we use them interchangeably?Usually. The present perfect indicates recentness or relati
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