i have been busy last week vs I was busy last week

The sentence 'I was busy last week' is correct. The past simple tense of 'was' is appropriate when referring to a specific time in the past, such as last week. 'I have been busy last week' is incorrect because the present perfect continuous tense 'have been' is not correct for a specific past time reference like 'last week.'

Explained by Michele A.
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: August 03, 2024

i have been busy last week

This phrase is incorrect. The present perfect continuous tense 'have been' is not appropriate for a specific past time reference like 'last week.'

Avoid using the present perfect continuous tense for specific past time references. Instead, use the past simple tense to describe actions or states that occurred at a definite point in the past.

I was busy last week

This phrase is correct. The past simple tense 'was' is suitable for referring to a specific time in the past, such as 'last week.'

Use the past simple tense to describe actions or states that occurred at a definite point in the past, like 'last week.'

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i have been busy last week vs I was busy last week

i have been busy last week

I was busy last week

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