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]

"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"
I hope that this could help you.

Kind regards,
Dany

 

[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"
I hope that this could help you.

Kind regards,
Dany

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]

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 :hi:

 

[Casiopea]

"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.

Correction

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

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

All the best,

 

[Wai_Wai]

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

 

[Casiopea]

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,

 

[Francois]

Did you mean that the 's stands for has ?

FRC

 

[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,

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

 

[Casiopea]

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

:up:

 

[Casiopea]

Did you mean that the 's stands for has ?

FRC

Thanks.

I meant to write, doesn't...doesn't....