0
Laborious Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

What's the difference between "Where have you been?" and "Where are you?", please

Hi there teachers, 

Would you please tell me the difference between "Where have you been today?" and "Where are you today?"?

Thank you. 
  

Top answer

" is retrospective. For example, if a work colleague hasn't been at his desk all day, but you bump into him just as you are going home, you could say this. " is talking about the present or future.

— GPY

  • " is retrospective.
  • For example, if a work colleague hasn't been at his desk all day, but you bump into him just as you are going home, you could say this.
  • " is talking about the present or future.
  • For example, if someone who travels a lot telephones you, and you don't know where they are, you could say this.
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.

10 Answers
0
"Where have you been today?" is retrospective. For example, if a work colleague hasn't been at his desk all day, but you bump into him just as you are going home, you could say this.

"Where are you today?" is talking about the present or future. For example, if someone who travels a lot telephones you, and you don't know where they are, you could say this.
0
0
Emotion: smile Thanks teacher. How about the difference between "Where have you been today?" and "Where were you today?"?

I
0
0
LaboriousWhere have you been today?
To my ear, this one seems to be asking me to talk about all the places I've been so far today. The day is still continuing, so as the answerer of the question, I'm expected to talk about all my activities up to the time of the conversation itself.
LaboriousWhere were you today?
To my ear,
0
0
Correct me if I am wrong, "where have you been today?" is past perfect tense, we are asking about period of time in the past we do not know what time exactly .

"where are you today?" it's present simple ?!!! maybe

Please advice ?
0
0
OmarhadyCorrect me if I am wrong, "where have you been today?" is past perfect tense
Sorry, but you are wrong. It is not a past perfect tense. (That would be "Where had you been?") It's a present perfect tense.
Omarhadywe are asking about period of time in the past we do not know what time exactly
Yes, often about
0
0
Hi CJ

can we say "where were you today" ? and what is the different between this question and "where have you been today" ?
0
0
Omarhadycan we say "where were you today" ? and what is the different between this question and "where have you been today" ?
Read through the entire thread, and you will see that I have already given the answer in one of my posts above.

CJ
0
0
Laborious Thanks teacher. How about the difference between "Where have you been today?" and "Where were you today?"?In your "work colleague" example, wouldn't "Where were you today?" be more appropriate, please?
I see (at least) two possible different shades of meaning for "Where have you been today?". The first has connotations of "Why were you not where you
0
0

Where have you been today

0
0
I want to know my phone only
0

Related Questions