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Alrubaie Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Past vs present perfect usage

Hi,

What's the difference between: "I've been there yesterday" and "I was there yesterday"?

Thank you,
Hasan
  

Top answer

In this sentence, "I've been there yesterday" a little bit inappropriate. If you use this sentence,as for me, It should express that, for example, in news; "Yesterday a robbery took place in Bank of America" and you say "I've been there yesterday" so it should express an unusual situation or experience. "I was there yesterdey" is ordinary use.

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5 Answers
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In this sentence, "I've been there yesterday" a little bit inappropriate. If you use this sentence,as for me, It should express that, for example, in news; "Yesterday a robbery took place in Bank of America" and you say "I've been there yesterday" so it should express an unusual situation or experience.
"I was there yesterdey" is ordinary use.
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Hi and welcome to the forums, both of you.

Simply, the present perfect is not used with a specific time reference.

I was there yesterday.
I have been there.
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So if I'm referring to an even happened yesterday, then I can use "I was there yesterday" and "I have been there" interchangeably, right?
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Alrubaie:

The best way to say this is:

I was there yesterday when it happened.

I have been there.- This means that at some time in the past (maybe more than once) you were at that place. The time is not specific.
For example:
I have been to New York many times, but not recently.
I was in New York when the planes hit the twin towers.
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Awesome. Thank you all!
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