Used/occupied/busy

Question

Since the fitting room was used, I had to wait for a while.
Since the fitting room was occupied, I had to wait for a while.
Since the fitting room was busy, I had to wait for a while.

Are they correct?

Thanks
LiJ

Marius Hancu · Accepted Answer

If you want it to make it more temporary, or more precise in time:

Since the fitting room was being used at the time, I had to wait for a while.
Since the fitting room was being occupied at the time, I had to wait for a while.

I would not use busy here (about a thing/room).

Sarangadhar · Answer

Marius HancuIf you want it to make it more temporary, or more precise in time:

Since the fitting room was being used at the time, I had to wait for a while.
Since the fitting room was being occupied at the time, I had to wait for a while.

I would not use busy here (about a thing/room).

can I use "at the time" without "being"?

Since the fitting room was used at the time, I had to wait for a while.
Since the fitting room was occupied at the time, I had to wait for a while.

Cool Breeze · Answer

Marius HancuSince the fitting room was being occupied at the time, I had to wait for a while.

Hi Marius

I wouldn't use being with occupied. We can say:

The fitting room is occupied but I wouldn't say: The fitting room is used to mean the same thing. Occupied is adjectival in the sentence but since there are so few verb forms in English, the few forms sometimes have to be used as both verbs and adjectives.

CB

Marius Hancu · Answer

Cool Breeze
Marius HancuSince the fitting room was being occupied at the time, I had to wait for a while.
I wouldn't use being with occupied.

I think you have a point.

Re-reading my version, it seems it means that an attack was carried on against the (occupants of the) room right at that moment

while in truth the attack (and the occupation) had already taken place.

Liveinjapan · Answer

Thanks, CB and Marius.

Please let me comfirm again. The correct sentences hrere are:

Since the fitting room was used at the time, I had to wait for a while.
Since the fitting room was being used at the time, I had to wait for a while.
Since the fitting room was occupied at the time, I had to wait for a while.
Since the fitting room was busy at the time, I had to wait for a while.

Right?

Thanks
LiJ

BarbaraPA · Answer

The fitting room was in use, so you had to wait for a while.

I know that I'm a dinosaur, but I try not to use "since" when I mean "because."

Liveinjapan · Answer

Grammar GeekThe fitting room was in use, so you had to wait for a while.

Got it! Thanks, GG.

Hoa Thai · Answer

Grammar GeekThe fitting room was in use, so you had to wait for a while.

I know that I'm a dinosaur, but I try not to use "since" when I mean "because."

Hi Barbara,

I am with you on this. The usage of since is rather ambiguous in the following sentence:

Since it began to rain, John hasn't gone out - Was the rain the reason for John to stay inside ? Not sure!

That said, I was taught that when the dependent clause follows the main one, the presence / absence of a comma would clear thing up:

1. John hasn't gone out, since it began to rain. (introducing a reason)
2. John hasn't gone out since it began to rain. (marking time).

Since in the sense of because in sentence #1 sounds less emphatic than because.

Used/occupied/busy

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