0
Tinanam0102 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

was playing vs has been playing

Hi teachers,

A: Anne's clothes are dirty. What has she been doing?
B: She's been playing in the yard.

A: Anne's clothes are dirty. What was she doing?
B: She was playing in the yard.

Does the second pair make sense? The first pair was copied down from a grammar book. Would you tell me if it's true that Americans would prefer the second pair?

Thanks
TN
  

Top answer

Actually, both pairs work. However, the first is probably the more common. It implies that the action was a little more recent, while the second could be expressed while looking at the pile of laundry later on.

— Philip

  • Actually, both pairs work.
  • However, the first is probably the more common.
  • It implies that the action was a little more recent, while the second could be expressed while looking at the pile of laundry later on.
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
Actually, both pairs work. However, the first is probably the more common. It implies that the action was a little more recent, while the second could be expressed while looking at the pile of laundry later on.
0

Related Questions