I was in … for x years

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"I have been in America for 10 years" indicates that the speaker is still currently in America.



But what if you are not in America anymore and you want to express that you have spent 10 years living in America?
Can you say:



I had been in America for 10 years.
I was in America for 10 years.



Or are there any other ways to express the same idea?






tense







share|improve this question

















  • 3




    I think you would say it like this: I lived in America for 10 years. You don't need all that fancy verb-tense joggling.
    – Michael Rybkin
    1 hour ago






  • 2




    @Michael Rybkin Absolutely right on! There are times when complex tense forms have to be used, but don't use them unless you absolutely have to. If you can say something using simple verb tenses, and what you are saying is grammatically correct and can be understood by the people that you are speaking to, then there is no point in trying to say the same thing using more complex tenses; otherwise you will come across as weird or pretentious.
    – James
    1 hour ago
















up vote
2
down vote

favorite












"I have been in America for 10 years" indicates that the speaker is still currently in America.



But what if you are not in America anymore and you want to express that you have spent 10 years living in America?
Can you say:



I had been in America for 10 years.
I was in America for 10 years.



Or are there any other ways to express the same idea?






tense







share|improve this question

















  • 3




    I think you would say it like this: I lived in America for 10 years. You don't need all that fancy verb-tense joggling.
    – Michael Rybkin
    1 hour ago






  • 2




    @Michael Rybkin Absolutely right on! There are times when complex tense forms have to be used, but don't use them unless you absolutely have to. If you can say something using simple verb tenses, and what you are saying is grammatically correct and can be understood by the people that you are speaking to, then there is no point in trying to say the same thing using more complex tenses; otherwise you will come across as weird or pretentious.
    – James
    1 hour ago












up vote
2
down vote

favorite









up vote
2
down vote

favorite











"I have been in America for 10 years" indicates that the speaker is still currently in America.



But what if you are not in America anymore and you want to express that you have spent 10 years living in America?
Can you say:



I had been in America for 10 years.
I was in America for 10 years.



Or are there any other ways to express the same idea?






tense







share|improve this question













"I have been in America for 10 years" indicates that the speaker is still currently in America.



But what if you are not in America anymore and you want to express that you have spent 10 years living in America?
Can you say:



I had been in America for 10 years.
I was in America for 10 years.



Or are there any other ways to express the same idea?






tense




tense






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked 2 hours ago









Tom Lee

462514




462514







  • 3




    I think you would say it like this: I lived in America for 10 years. You don't need all that fancy verb-tense joggling.
    – Michael Rybkin
    1 hour ago






  • 2




    @Michael Rybkin Absolutely right on! There are times when complex tense forms have to be used, but don't use them unless you absolutely have to. If you can say something using simple verb tenses, and what you are saying is grammatically correct and can be understood by the people that you are speaking to, then there is no point in trying to say the same thing using more complex tenses; otherwise you will come across as weird or pretentious.
    – James
    1 hour ago












  • 3




    I think you would say it like this: I lived in America for 10 years. You don't need all that fancy verb-tense joggling.
    – Michael Rybkin
    1 hour ago






  • 2




    @Michael Rybkin Absolutely right on! There are times when complex tense forms have to be used, but don't use them unless you absolutely have to. If you can say something using simple verb tenses, and what you are saying is grammatically correct and can be understood by the people that you are speaking to, then there is no point in trying to say the same thing using more complex tenses; otherwise you will come across as weird or pretentious.
    – James
    1 hour ago







3




3




I think you would say it like this: I lived in America for 10 years. You don't need all that fancy verb-tense joggling.
– Michael Rybkin
1 hour ago




I think you would say it like this: I lived in America for 10 years. You don't need all that fancy verb-tense joggling.
– Michael Rybkin
1 hour ago




2




2




@Michael Rybkin Absolutely right on! There are times when complex tense forms have to be used, but don't use them unless you absolutely have to. If you can say something using simple verb tenses, and what you are saying is grammatically correct and can be understood by the people that you are speaking to, then there is no point in trying to say the same thing using more complex tenses; otherwise you will come across as weird or pretentious.
– James
1 hour ago




@Michael Rybkin Absolutely right on! There are times when complex tense forms have to be used, but don't use them unless you absolutely have to. If you can say something using simple verb tenses, and what you are saying is grammatically correct and can be understood by the people that you are speaking to, then there is no point in trying to say the same thing using more complex tenses; otherwise you will come across as weird or pretentious.
– James
1 hour ago










1 Answer
1






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up vote
3
down vote













As Michael said in the comment, the commonest way is...




I lived in America for 10 years.




Or, say as you said...




I was in American for 10 years.




Alternatively,




I had spent 10 years in America







share|improve this answer




















    Your Answer







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    1 Answer
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    active

    oldest

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    1 Answer
    1






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

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    active

    oldest

    votes








    up vote
    3
    down vote













    As Michael said in the comment, the commonest way is...




    I lived in America for 10 years.




    Or, say as you said...




    I was in American for 10 years.




    Alternatively,




    I had spent 10 years in America







    share|improve this answer
























      up vote
      3
      down vote













      As Michael said in the comment, the commonest way is...




      I lived in America for 10 years.




      Or, say as you said...




      I was in American for 10 years.




      Alternatively,




      I had spent 10 years in America







      share|improve this answer






















        up vote
        3
        down vote










        up vote
        3
        down vote









        As Michael said in the comment, the commonest way is...




        I lived in America for 10 years.




        Or, say as you said...




        I was in American for 10 years.




        Alternatively,




        I had spent 10 years in America







        share|improve this answer












        As Michael said in the comment, the commonest way is...




        I lived in America for 10 years.




        Or, say as you said...




        I was in American for 10 years.




        Alternatively,




        I had spent 10 years in America








        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 1 hour ago









        Maulik V♦

        50.3k56202378




        50.3k56202378



























             

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