Was swindled vs have been swindled
I have made up the example below.
(1) I was swindled three times when I was shopping at the largest department store in my city.
My non-native English speaking friends think "was swindled" is wrong. They have suggested the present perfect, as shown below.
(2) I have been swindled three times when I was shopping at the largest department store in my city.
I don't think my friends are correct because there is a lack of tense agreement between "have been swindled" and "when I was".
Whose sentence is grammatically correct? Thank you very much for your help.
Top answer
ansonguy (2) I have been swindled three times when ... No, no, no! You can't write a present perfect accompanied by a when -clause.
- ansonguy (2) I have been swindled three times when ...
- No, no, no!
- You can't write a present perfect accompanied by a when -clause.
- ansonguy (1) I was swindled three times when I was shopping at the largest department store in my city.
- Much better.
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ansonguy(2) I have been swindled three times when ...
No, no, no! You can't write a present perfect accompanied by a when-clause.
ansonguy(1) I was swindled three times when I was shopping at the largest department store in my city.
Much better.
"swindled" is a pretty low-c
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