I’ve been asking myself vs I asked myself

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'I've been asking myself' is used when referring to an ongoing or repeated action of asking oneself, while 'I asked myself' is used when referring to a specific instance in the past when one asked oneself a question.

Last updated: April 09, 2024 • 464 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to refer to an ongoing or repeated action of asking oneself.

"I’ve been asking myself"

This phrase is used to express that the action of asking oneself has been happening continuously or repeatedly over a period of time.

Examples:

I've been asking myself why I feel this way.
Lately, I've been asking myself if I'm on the right path.

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I've been asking myself why I did that. I could have challenged him.
And for the last decade, I've been asking myself why that is.
So, Bob... I've been asking myself a lot of tough questions lately.
I've been asking myself the same question, and all I can say is that I was a broken man for a very long time, and I did horrendous things.
I've been asking myself why would anyone induct a bioelectrical charge into a glial cell.
So I've been asking myself: Why should we limit this smarter, more precise, better way to tackle diseases to the rich world?
Look, I've been asking myself for hours whether or not I should've told you I'm in love with Gabriel.
You know, I've been asking myself the same thing, and the only thing I can come up with is: it's really, really funny.
These last few days, I've been asking myself if any of this is worth it.
And I've been asking myself, what is Emma going to experience in the video game world?
But lately I've been asking myself: can we stop these people from becoming disturbing in the first place?
I've been asking myself how is it the Devil can move so freely here among the sacred icons?
I've been asking myself what may be the key element in the events being celebrated this year, 2017: the Lutheran Reformation, the birth of Free Masonry, the Communist revolution, and the apparitions in Fatima.
You know what I've been asking myself a lot this last week?
almost four, traveling the world, trying to work, getting involved in conflicts ranging from Yugoslavia to the Middle East to Chechnya to Venezuela, some of the most difficult conflicts on the face of the planet, I've been asking myself that question.
You know, I've been asking myself what possible wisdom
I've been asking myself that a lot lately.
I've been asking myself that question Till this very moment.
Lately, I've been asking myself the same bloody question.
That's what I've been asking myself.

Alternatives:

I have been wondering to myself
I've been pondering about it
I've been questioning myself
I've been reflecting on it
I've been contemplating

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to refer to a specific instance in the past when one asked oneself a question.

"I asked myself"

This phrase is used to describe a single occasion in the past when someone asked themselves a question or reflected on something.

Examples:

Yesterday, I asked myself why I was feeling so anxious.
When I saw the results, I asked myself if I could have done better.

Show examples from the web [+]

I asked myself, with the slightest curiosity.
In researching this pitch, I asked myself...
I asked myself the exact same question when I lost Brad.
That's what I asked myself.
Every morning, I asked myself how much longer I could do it.
I asked myself what kind of life was expecting you.
For twenty years, I asked myself everyday...
I asked myself that same question.
I asked myself whether I really deserved so much happiness.
But I asked myself why you had killed that man...
And I asked myself what Will would tell me if he could.
I asked myself if Abdul was within them.
I asked myself what you would do.
When I asked myself that question it actually made me laugh quite a bit.
I asked myself what would be wrong with avoiding these people.
And I asked myself what was the use, in my tender age...
And when I asked myself if I really wanted to break off my marriage, the answer was no.
Well, you know, after we crashed that truck, running through the woods, and I asked myself - Wade, no need to explain.
And every night I asked myself what you needed that money for.
I saw my reflection and I asked myself -

Alternatives:

I wondered to myself
I pondered about it
I questioned myself
I reflected on it
I contemplated

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I’ve been asking myself vs I asked myself