0
Viceidol Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

The difference of "I haven't been/wasn't busy today."

I wasn't busy today.
I haven't been busy today.


I spoke to the boss today about my holiday.
I have spoken to the boss today about my holiday.


May I ask is there any difference between those pair of sentences? Do the sentences in either pair mean the same? I think there must be some kind of difference between them, but I don't know what it is.
Thank you for your reply!
  

Top answer

In the first of each pair, there is a gap of time between the activity or action and the present moment, and you are not talking about anything in that gap. I wasn't busy today [earlier]. ) I haven't been busy today [all the way until now].

— CalifJim

  • In the first of each pair, there is a gap of time between the activity or action and the present moment, and you are not talking about anything in that gap.
  • I wasn't busy today [earlier].
  • ) I haven't been busy today [all the way until now].
  • I spoke to the boss [earlier].
  • ) I have spoken to the boss [at some time before now, but it could have been much earlier or it could have been just seconds ago].
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0
In the first of each pair, there is a gap of time between the activity or action and the present moment, and you are not talking about anything in that gap.
I wasn't busy today [earlier]. (Nothing is said about what happened between then and now.)

I haven't been busy today [all the way until now].
I spoke to the boss [earlier]. (Nothing is said about the ti
0
0

I haven't been in that cinema for ages. Is this correct to say?

0

Related Questions