Worked or have been working?
It is 10 o'clock in the evening and I am tired because I had a busy day at work. (I finished work at 6 o'clock.) Can I say "I'm tired because I've been working hard all day" or do I have to say "I'm tired because I worked hard all day", because the working stopped a few hours ago?
Top answer
olive file 673 stopped a few hours ago Only a few hours ago is not going to be significant in comparison with all day. You don't have to say "worked hard all day" (though you can). You can say "have been working hard all day".
- olive file 673 stopped a few hours ago Only a few hours ago is not going to be significant in comparison with all day.
- You don't have to say "worked hard all day" (though you can).
- You can say "have been working hard all day".
- English is not a language that requires its speakers to carry a stop-watch so that they can choose their verb tenses correctly.
- In short, both are correct.
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olive file 673 stopped a few hours ago
Only a few hours ago is not going to be significant in comparison with all day. You don't have to say "worked hard all day" (though you can). You can say "have been working hard all day".
English is not a language that requires its speakers to carry a stop-watch so that they can choose their verb tenses correct
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