0

Would you tell me in what contexts would you use there was a time when... as opposed to there has been a time when...? For example:

There was a time when I had to scrimp on things to buy a thing I really needed.

There has been a time when I had to scrimp on things to buy a thing I really needed.

Are both sentences are perfectly natural?

Improve this question
1
  • 1
    I would use the first and not the second, which I don't find at all natural.
    – Kate Bunting
    Commented Aug 10, 2022 at 16:50

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2

No, only the first example is valid (I would also substitute "something"):

There was a time when I had to scrimp on things to buy something I really needed.

You have to use some form of the past tense because that time is over. "There has been a time" is a form of the present tense (present perfect).

P.S. You can say "there had been a time," but it's pretty awkward and would only be used in a certain context. I would stick with the simple past tense.

Improve this answer
1
  • Interestingly enough, "There have been times when..." sounds natural to me, "There has been a time when" doesn't.
    – stangdon
    Commented Aug 10, 2022 at 20:21

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .