How have you been

[tufguy]

What exactly does this phrase mean?. "How have you been?". If somebody asks you this what should be your answer?. Can we say "I have been great so far"?.

 

[probus]

It is a close cousin of "How are you?" The phrase "since we last met or talked" is understood.

So if somebody asks "How have you been?" you can reply "great", "fine", "pretty good", "not bad", "terrible" or anything else you might say in reply to "how are you?"

 

[emsr2d2]

"How have you been" is incorrect. Can you see why?

 

[Mirino]

Why isn't it correct?

 

[Rover_KE]

Mirino, your own question should make it obvious why tufguy's is incorrect.

 

[emsr2d2]

Why isn't it correct?

My comment was aimed at tufguy, by the way.

 

[tufguy]

My comment was aimed at tufguy, by the way.

Sorry, what is wrong? I checked but couldn't understand.

 

[bhaisahab]

Sorry, what is wrong? I checked but couldn't understand.

Punctuation. (again)

 

[tufguy]

Tried amending it. Please check.

 

[bhaisahab]

It is still not punctuated correctly.

 

[Grumpy]

tufguy, have another look at your original post. There are four sentences in it. What's the difference in punctuation between "How have you been". and all the others?

 

[emsr2d2]

Tufguy, it really shouldn't have taken over a page of comments for you to realise that "How have you been" should have a question mark at the end.

 

[Rover_KE]

Prediction: he'll do the same again real soon.

I deleted a post earlier for the same reason.

 

[probus]

Delighted to see you use "real soon" Rover. Reverse colonization may be ongoing. ;-)

 

[tufguy]

Sorry guys. Slow working brain. Everybody tells this to me .Sorry.

 

[Rover_KE]

Delighted to see you use "real soon" Rover. Reverse colonization may be ongoing. ;-)

In the last decade I've spent a total of two years in the USA. I find some Americanisms not only acceptable, but useful: 'Are we good to go?' 'Are you cool with that?' 'What's not to like?' 'Close, but no cigar.' 'The whole nine yards'.

However, you'll never hear me say 'He was laying on the floor.' 'He's gotten rabies off of an infected squirrel.'