He has been sad - present perfect Example: He has been sad since his wife left. (still feeling the effects of a past event.) He was sad - past simple Example: He was sad when his wife left. (not sad anymore.)

He 'has been happy' is talking in the past tense but a finished event. It might imply he is now unhappy but that in the past he was happy if said alone. Alternatively it can be used when talking about a past event and how he felt but you need more information. For example my son has left his school to go to university. 'He has been happy, during his time at the school'.

Hi Sophie, 1/When we say "he is happy/sad", it means that the person is currently happy/sad. This is the simple present 2/When we say "he was sad/happy", it means that that the person felt happy/sad previously but no longer feels that way. This is the simple past. 3/When we say "he has been happy/sad", it means that the person felt sadness/happiness in the past but we don't know when exactly. It also means that the person doesn't feel sad anymore. This is the present perfect. The difference is that in the present perfect, the time is not important or known.

"He has been sad" he says he was sad and still moving on. But he was sad in the past. Not sad anymore. "Was" can say the past is over. I am learning English too. hope you can understand

"He has been happy" you can think of it like the past tense. Now that person is happy. But this has happened in the past. If you say he is happy, it means he is happy now