Why the present perfect? // Where have you been during the vacation?

Question

I saw this present perfect expression in a textbook :

A: Where have you been during the vacation?

B: I have been to Italy and France.

What I'm wondering is why the present perfect tense was used here. I thought that the present perfect tense shouldn't be used with a finished period of time expression, which is "during the vacation".

Also I heard this expression on a show:

A: Where have you been all night?

B: Looking for the killer.

Also it was not the night time at the time of the speaking. The time of the speaking is in the morning. Also I'm wondering about the B person's answer. The A person asked where he was during the last night and he answered saying what he did during that time.

Please help~ teahchers!!! I'd appreciate any help. Thanks soooooo much! m(_ _)m

Ed_shaw · Accepted Answer

A: Where have you been during the vacation?
B: I have been to Italy and France.

Sentence A is not exactly wrong. It is awkward. You are correct to notice the difficulty presented by use of the present perfect tense. According to the tense, the action is still occurring. "During" is most commonly used to mean "throughout the duration," indicating the time period from
start to finish. The listener is forced to stretch the meaning of "during," and that becomes awkward. Some might say, "Where have you been during the vacation..so far, that is."

Problems also arise when speakers get sloppy with that verb, "to be," and, especially when using the meaning "to exist," or "to manifest presence." Think about it: if I ask you where you have been, I am asking you where your physical presence has occurred. Is that what I really want to know?

"What countries have you visited, so far, while on vacation?"

If someone wants to argue the point, there is not much that can be said. We simply remind ourselves that our goal is to communicate clearly in English. We do not need to fool around with borderline usage.

It is common to say, "There must be no talking during the performance." Also, "There was no talking during the performance," even though the performance either had yet to start or was finished.

Concerning the second exchange, it is all right. "I have been" looking for the killer is understood as a direct response to the question. Take away the question and the answer collapses.

Why the present perfect? // Where have you been during the vacation?

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