There is never been a better time...

[Wai_Wai]

"There is never been a better time to do XXX"

I know it means it is the best time to do XXX.
But I would like to know why "never a better time" = "the best time".
[Maybe it is difficult to explain though :( ]


27 Sep: Question answered! Thanks for all your help.

[Dany]

Originally Posted by Wai_Wai

"There is never been a better time to do XXX"

I know it means it is the best time to do XXX.
But I would like to know why "never a better time" = "the best time".
[Maybe it is difficult to explain though :( ]

Hello Wai_Wai,

I would try to explain it.
If you say "never a better time" then it means that there were no better time befor that time and there won't be a better time after that time.

So you are right. "The best time to do something" :D
I hope that this could help you.

Kind regards,
Dany :D

[Wai_Wai]

Originally Posted by Dany

Hello Wai_Wai,

I would try to explain it.
If you say "never a better time" then it means that there were no better time befor that time and there won't be a better time after that time.

So you are right. "The best time to do something" :D
I hope that this could help you.

Kind regards,
Dany :D

Thanks for your explanation.

The reason why I get confused with this statement is as follows:
To me, "There is never been a better time XXX" is similar to "There is never a good time to do XXX"

Just like:
- I never run
- I never swim
etc.

It means the person will never do the thing from the past to now (and maybe in the future).

So "never been a good time" should mean You can't find a suitable time for you to do XXX.
But if the adj "good" becomes 2nd-level-comparative (ie better). The meaning changes.

After your explanation, you really inspires me.

Now I will take the statement like the following:
- You will never find a better time to do XXX. (so you should act now!)

Thanks a lot.

[Dany]

Originally Posted by Wai_Wai

Thanks for your explanation.

The reason why I get confused with this statement is as follows:
To me, "There is never been a better time XXX" is similar to "There is never a good time to do XXX"

Just like:
- I never run
- I never swim
etc.

It means the person will never do the thing from the past to now (and maybe in the future).

So "never been a good time" should mean You can't find a suitable time for you to do XXX.
But if the adj "good" becomes 2nd-level-comparative (ie better). The meaning changes.

After your explanation, you really inspires me.

Now I will take the statement like the following:
- You will never find a better time to do XXX. (so you should act now!)

Thanks a lot.

You're welcome

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by Wai_Wai

"There is never been a better time to do XXX"

I know it means it is the best time to do XXX.
But I would like to know why "never a better time" = "the best time".
[Maybe it is difficult to explain though :( ]

The adverb never negates the state of the verb been.

never been ~ not be, means, doesn't exist.
has never been means, hasn't existed before, that is until now, which makes it the only time and so the best time.

:D Correction :D

There has never been a better time. (Present Perfect)

Note, There is been are not compatible. :wink:

All the best, :D

[Wai_Wai]

Dear Casiopea,
Hi, the statement is extracted from a source.
Thanks for the correction. ^-^

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by Wai_Wai

Dear Casiopea,
Hi, the statement is extracted from a source.
Thanks for the correction. ^-^

Which one did the Source actually list? :?

1. There is never a better time than now. (OK)
2. There's never been a better time than now. (OK)
3. There is never been a better time than now. (Not OK)

Note that, There's stands for There has. The apostrophe (') replaced the consonant-vowel "ha". :wink:

All the best, :D

[Francois]

Did you mean that the 's stands for has ?

FRC

[Wai_Wai]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

Which one did the Source actually list? :?

1. There is never a better time than now. (OK)
2. There's never been a better time than now. (OK)
3. There is never been a better time than now. (Not OK)

Note that, There's stands for There has. The apostrophe (') replaced the consonant-vowel "ha". :wink:

All the best, :D

The second one.
Now I know I misinterpreted the 's as is. In fact, it is "has".
Thanks a lot.

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by Wai_Wai

The second one. Now I know I misinterpreted the 's as is. In fact, it is "has".
Thanks a lot.