"he was late" vs "he has been late"

Question

"he was late" vs "he has been late"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'He has been late' is used to indicate a continuous action that started in the past and is still relevant in the present. 'He was late' is used to describe a specific past event when someone arrived after the expected time.

Last Updated: March 23, 2024

This phrase is used to talk about a single instance of lateness in the past. It refers to a particular moment when someone did not arrive on time.

Examples:

He was late for the meeting yesterday.
She was late for the bus this morning.
They were late for the party last night.

Alternatives:

He arrived after the scheduled time.
He failed to be punctual.
He missed the beginning of the event due to lateness.
He didn't make it on time.
He showed up late.

This phrase is used to describe a situation where someone has a history of being late, or when the lateness is still affecting the present. It implies a repeated or ongoing behavior.

Examples:

He has been late to every meeting this week.
She has been late for work every day this month.
They have been late for the past three appointments.

Alternatives:

He has a history of being late.
He has consistently arrived late.
He has shown a pattern of lateness.
He has been consistently tardy.
He has been habitually late.

Answer 1

he was late

This phrase is correct and commonly used to describe a specific past event when someone arrived after the expected time.

Answer 2

he has been late

This phrase is correct and commonly used to indicate a continuous action that started in the past and is still relevant in the present.

"he was late" vs "he has been late"

he was late

he has been late

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