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Newguest Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
were/have been
Hi
When someone comes back home late, should I ask "Where were you?" or "Where have you been?" What's the difference in meaning, when use which?
thanks
When someone comes back home late, should I ask "Where were you?" or "Where have you been?" What's the difference in meaning, when use which?
thanks
Top answer
Both refer to an event in the past. The difference is the present perfect tells us that the state cause by the past event still prevails. " A stone broke the windscreen ": all we know here is the windscreen broke.
- Both refer to an event in the past.
- The difference is the present perfect tells us that the state cause by the past event still prevails.
- " A stone broke the windscreen ": all we know here is the windscreen broke.
- We don't know its present condition.
- " A stone has broken the windscreen ": this tells us the windscreen broke and was still broken at the time of the statement.
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5 Answers
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Both refer to an event in the past. The difference is the present perfect tells us that the state cause by the past event still prevails.
"A stone broke the windscreen": all we know here is the windscreen broke. We don't know its present condition.
"A stone has broken the windscreen": this tells us the windscreen broke and was still broken at the time of the statemen
"A stone broke the windscreen": all we know here is the windscreen broke. We don't know its present condition.
"A stone has broken the windscreen": this tells us the windscreen broke and was still broken at the time of the statemen
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It depends on what you want to find out. If you wonder why someone's late, use "Where have you been?" Or just ask "Why are you late?"
Compare:
Where were you? -- Oh, I visited so many interesting places! Museums, theatres, exhibitions, clubs... (This may have taken place a week ago, a month ago, a year ago, etc. It just states the fact of visiting.)
Where have you been?
Compare:
Where were you? -- Oh, I visited so many interesting places! Museums, theatres, exhibitions, clubs... (This may have taken place a week ago, a month ago, a year ago, etc. It just states the fact of visiting.)
Where have you been?
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Hi, this question just reminded me of something I had to ask here... I'll open another thread though.
As for your question, I think both are ok... But I think "Where have you been?" is much more common, when the meaning is "Where have you been up to now?"
And "Where were you?" is more common when you mean "Where were you just a second ago/ just now/ in the past ten minutes/ when I lo
As for your question, I think both are ok... But I think "Where have you been?" is much more common, when the meaning is "Where have you been up to now?"
And "Where were you?" is more common when you mean "Where were you just a second ago/ just now/ in the past ten minutes/ when I lo
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When someone comes back home late, should I ask "Where were you?" or "Where have you been?"The two are virtually indistinguishable in this situation, and the decision is completely arbitrary. Make a mental note to use "Where have you been?" if you'd like to decide between one and the other. There's no reason for the choice, but when the situation happens it may be
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