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"I have been" vs "I was"

Both "I have been" and "I was" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "I have been" is used to talk about experiences or actions that started in the past and continue up to the present. On the other hand, "I was" is used to talk about actions or situations that happened in the past and are completed.

Last Updated: March 21, 2024

I have been

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to talk about experiences or actions that started in the past and continue up to the present.

Use "I have been" when you want to express that you have been doing something from the past up to the present moment.

Examples:

  • I have been working on this project for two months.
  • She has been studying English for years.
  • They have been living in this city since 2010.

Alternatives:

  • I have worked
  • I have studied
  • I have lived

I was

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to talk about actions or situations that happened in the past and are completed.

Use "I was" when you want to refer to something that occurred in the past and is finished.

Examples:

  • I was at the party last night.
  • She was a teacher before she became a writer.
  • They were happy when they received the news.

Alternatives:

  • I used to be
  • I had been
  • I was being

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