What is the correct answer?
Why are your hands so dirty?
I .......... in the garden.
1 was working
2 have been working
Long discussion on a FB group. Score is about 50:50.
Since this is so basic grammar and so important for our understanding, I hope you can enlighten me.
Thanks in advance,
heian
Top answer
Both are grammatical. You will see both used. It is just a matter of choice and circumstance.
- Both are grammatical.
- You will see both used.
- It is just a matter of choice and circumstance.
- #2 is more immediately connected to the present.
- It also gives an implicit reason why I have not washed my hands -- my work in the garden is ongoing.
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Both are grammatical. You will see both used. It is just a matter of choice and circumstance.
#2 is more immediately connected to the present. It also gives an implicit reason why I have not washed my hands -- my work in the garden is ongoing. So that is what I probably would say.
Contrast with this:
A: There is dirt underneath your fingernails.
B: I was working in the
0If this is a test question, the answer that is expected is almost certainly I have been working in the garden due to the fact that so many grammar books say that the present perfect is used when there is "current relevance", and the question "Why are your hands so dirty?" obviously has current relevance.
CJ
0
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