I have been some time (in) answering this question.

[diamondcutter]

I have been some time (in) answering this question.

Source: English Grammar, by Bo Bing, Kaiming Press, Beijing

The books says this sentence means the speaker thought for a while and then answered the question. But the sentence looks odd to me. I’d like to know whether it’s a correct sentence or not.

 

[probus]

It's certainly a correct sentence, but I doubt the meaning given by Mr Bo Bing. To me it means only that they did not answer immediately. In all probability they were thinking but we don't know for certain what the reason for the delay was.