have been using the computer

[JoeC]

Situation:

In a public area of computers, I am using a computer. I leave and make some copies temporarily. When I return, some people are approaching the computer, thinking that it is idle; so what tense would be used to tell them?:

-I was/am/have been using the computer.

I think they are all logical, but I am not sure whether there's one particularly natural and idiomatic.

Thank you. J.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Situation:

In a public area of computers, I am using a computer. I leave and make some copies temporarily. When I return, some people are approaching the computer, thinking that it is idle; so what tense would be used to tell them?:

-I was/am/have been using the computer.

I think they are all logical, but I am not sure whether there's one particularly natural and idiomatic.

Thank you. J.

In that context, they all work for me.

 

[emsr2d2]

In a lot of places these days, those people would be met with an angry shout of "Oy! I'm on that one!" It's not polite but it gets the message across.

 

[MikeNewYork]

In a lot of places these days, those people would be met with an angry shout of "Oy! I'm on that one!" It's not polite but it gets the message across.

I am pretty sure you will not hear "Oy" in America.

 

[emsr2d2]

I am pretty sure you will not hear "Oy" in America.

In AmE, I guess that would be "Hey!"

 

[MikeNewYork]

In AmE, I guess that would be "Hey!"

Indeed!

 

[Tdol]

As they haven't reached the computer, I would using I am using, but was using is also OK. As it's about who has the right to the computer, have been using doesn't work as well for me.