I was/ I have been

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Now is today. Which sentence is correct:

  1. I was in Warsaw today. (because I’m in Krakow now, but it is still today)

  2. I have been to Warsaw today. ( I have read that with : today/this year/this morning/this term not finished at the time of speaking we use the Present Perfect tense, but I’m not in Warsaw anymore, but it is still today)

I’m torn between 1 and 2.

Thank you for help.

2

They are both correct.

3

Hi Dozy, Thanks…but
No difference between them and no mistakes in using them?

4

There is not a huge difference in meaning. However, I guess “I was in Warsaw” focuses more on being in the city, while “I have been to Warsaw” focuses more on the trip to the city. Also, “I was in Warsaw today” more readily acts as a prelude to information about what happened in Warsaw. E.g. “I was in Warsaw today, and I happened to bump into old what’s-his-name”.

5

Thanks !:slight_smile:

6

The present perfect form is also used for an action which was happened within a specific time period, which is not over at the moment of speaking:

She has received three faxes this morning - the action has happened three times up to now and may happen again because the time period - this morning - isn’t over yet.
She received three faxes this morning - the time period is over.
Source: grammarway 4

So when you see a sentence with “this morning/today…” in Past Simple, you know that at he moment of speaking action was already finished.

And if you were in Warsaw today, you are no longer here but if you’ve been to Warsaw today, that indicates you’re now somewhere else. E.g. in Łódź :D.

7

Thanks Nevermind :-)))

8

Just to be clear, “I was in Warsaw today” and “I have been to Warsaw today” both imply that you are now no longer in Warsaw.