A.  Read the sentences under the picture. 

1. We were in Hawaii for one week, from November 10 to November 17. It was a great vacation. 
2. We arrived in Hawaii last week, and we’ll go home tomorrow. It’s been a great vacation.

Use it was for situations in the past. Use it’s been (or it has been) for situations that began in the past and continue into the present.

B.  Complete the sentences with It was or It’s been. Write your answer on the line.

1. ____________________ a long trip. We left at 6 AM, and we arrived at 9 PM.

2. ____________________ a long trip. We left at 6 AM this morning, and we’ll arrive at 9 PM tonight. 

3. We can’t go swimming. The water isn’t clean, so the city closed the beach. ____________________ closed since July.

4. Last summer we couldn’t go swimming. The water wasn’t clean, so the city closed the beach. ____________________ closed from July to September.

5. My parents took me to Mario’s Restaurant for pizza when I was a kid, and now I take my kids there. ____________________ on the corner of 5th Avenue and Main Street since 1983.

6. Luigi’s Restaurant closed last year. ____________________ on the corner of 4th Avenue and Water Street. There’s a Chinese restaurant on that corner now.

7. ____________________ a long, cold winter. I’m glad it’s the end of February, and spring will be here in just a few weeks.

8. ____________________ a long, cold winter. I’m glad it’s April, and spring is finally here.

9. ____________________ a hard semester—I took chemistry, biology, and history. Fortunately, I got an A as my final grade in all three classes.

10. ____________________ a hard semester—I’m taking chemistry, biology, and history. I hope I get an A in all three classes.

11. I liked the summer weather when I lived in Oregon. It rained a lot in the winter and spring, but ____________________ warm and dry in the summer.

12. I like the summer weather here in Oregon. It rained a lot in the winter and spring, but since then ____________________ warm and dry.

13. ____________________ hard to find work. Today I’m going to fill out three more job applications.

14. ____________________ hard to find work. I filled out fifty applications before I finally got a job.

C.  Complete the sentences with It was or It’s been. Write your answer on the line. Then read the sentences aloud with a partner. 

1. Person 1: You left at 6 AM, and you arrived at 9 PM?
    Person 2: Yes. ____________________ a long trip.

2. Person 1: Is the beach closed?
    Person 2: Yes. ____________________ closed since July.

3. Person 1: Has Mario’s Restaurant always been at the same location?
    Person 2: Yes. ____________________ on the corner of 5th and Main since 1983.

4. Person 1: How was the weather in Oregon last summer?
    Person 2: ____________________ warm and dry.

5. Person 1: How many applications did you fill out before you got a job?
    Person 2: Fifty. ____________________ really hard to find work.

D.  Tell the class about the weather in your native city. How was the weather last week? How has it been this week?

Worksheet: © 2016 Sandra Heyer. All rights reserved. Permission granted to reproduce for classroom use. 
Photo: © Petr Vaclavek | Dreamstime. Reprinted with permission.