"was spit up by" vs "been spit up by"

Question

"was spit up by" vs "been spit up by"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Been spit up by' is used when referring to a past action that has a continuing effect or relevance in the present, while 'was spit up by' is used for a one-time event in the past.

Last Updated: March 17, 2024

This phrase is used to describe a single instance in the past when something or someone was expelled or regurgitated. It does not imply a continuing effect or relevance in the present.

Examples:

The food was spit up by the baby and made a mess on the floor.
I was spit up by the ocean wave and found myself on the shore.
The medicine was spit up by the dog, making it impossible to administer.
The seed was spit up by the bird and landed in the garden.
The milk was spit up by the cat, leaving a stain on the carpet.

Alternatives:

got spit up by
had been spit up by
has been spit up by

This phrase is used to indicate that something or someone was previously expelled or regurgitated and continues to be in that state. It implies a connection between the past action and the present state.

Examples:

The food had been spit up by the baby and was now all over the floor.
I had been spit up by the ocean waves and was left stranded on the shore.
The medicine had been spit up by the dog, making it impossible to administer.
The seeds had been spit up by the bird and were scattered across the garden.
The milk had been spit up by the cat, leaving a mess on the carpet.

Alternatives:

had been spit up by
has been spit up by
have been spit up by

Answer 1

was spit up by

This phrase is correct and is commonly used in English when referring to a one-time event in the past.

Answer 2

been spit up by

This phrase is correct and is commonly used in English when referring to a past action with a continuing effect or relevance in the present.

"was spit up by" vs "been spit up by"

was spit up by

been spit up by

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