Learn English – difference between “Have been” and “was”

past-vs-present-perfect

can anyone please tell me the between "have been" and "was"? Suppose my friends calls me and I reply the following. Are they interchangeable in the following context?

  • Hey, Paul I was/have been busy working all day. I am very tired now. I will go your home and talk to you there.

Note that I am not working at the moment of speaking. I have just finished it.

Best Answer

Past Simple was is used for something that finished in the past:

I worked there for five years - but I don't any more

Present perfect have been is used for something that started in the past, continued to the present and either is still happening, or has some lasting effect:

I have worked there for five years - and I still do.

In your sentence, if the speaker had literally just finished working when the phone rang, either would be acceptable.

If Paul is a colleague who wants the speaker to "quickly look something up" or whatever, they might use simple past to emphasize that they really have finished and doesn't want to start the computer, dig out files etc to help Paul.

If Paul is the speaker's boss, they might use present perfect to emphasize that they are hard-working and are (almost) still working.

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