Meaning
‘Ive been’ is the contracted form of ‘I have been’. The contraction combines the subject pronoun ‘I’ with the auxiliary verb ‘have’ = I’ve. ‘I’ve been’ means that an action or event has started in the past and continues up to the present moment.
Today’s Sentences
- I’ve been busy.
- I’ve been going out.
- I’ve been staying up late.
- I’ve been waiting for you for an hour.
- I’ve been playing beach volleyball over the summer.
- Writer’s Note
01
I’ve been busy.
Situation 1
What have you been up to?
I’ve been busy.
Doing what?
I’ve been doing yoga after work everyday.
Situation 2
Do you have time to meet up?
Actually, I’m a little tired today.
Are you? Why so tired?
I’ve been busy.
02
I’ve been going out.
Situation 1
I’ve called you so many times this past week.
I’ve been going out.
Every night?
Yes, mostly work related meetings.
Situation 2
You look extra tired today.
I’ve been going out.
Long nights?
Too much drinking and partying.
03
I’ve been staying up late.
Situation 1
Are you ok?
Why?
You look exhausted.
I’ve been staying up late.
Situation 2
What did you do last night?
I started playing video games after dinner.
How long did you play?
I’ve been staying up late.
Playing all night.
04
I’ve been waiting for you for an hour.
Situation 1
Where are you?
I’m on the way.
I’ve been waiting for you for an hour.
I’m so sorry.
I missed the train and now I’m stuck in traffic.
Situation 2
Are you done work yet?
No, I’m stuck in a meeting.
I’ve been waiting for you for an hour.
I’m sorry but I can’t leave yet.
Why don’t you wait for me at the cafe down the street?
05
I’ve been playing beach volleyball over the summer.
Situation 1
What have you been up to?
I’ve been playing beach volleyball over the summer.
Really?
I used to play too.
You should come play with us!
Situation 2
You look so tanned.
Did you go somewhere?
No, I’ve been playing beach volleyball over the summer.
You look like you came back from a sunny vacation.
Thanks.
Writer’s Note
Have been is the form used with any other subject (including the pronouns I, we, and they). Means that something began in the past and has lasted into the present time.
Had been is the past perfect form of be and is used regardless of the subject. ‘Had been’ Means that something happened in the past and has already ended.
Combined with the present participles of other verbs to form their past perfect continuous, for example, ‘had been studying’ and present perfect continuous, for example, ‘has/have been studying’ forms.
Example sentences
I have been eating salads for lunch. 👉 I’ve been eating salads for lunch.
We have been taking dance lessons. 👉We’ve been taking dance lessons.
They have been engaging in criminal activity. 👉 They’ve been engaging in criminal activity.
