Was told vs. have been told

Question

What is the difference between the following?I was told...I have been told...

Wolfe · Accepted Answer

My English is not good (ok I must admit it's almost awful), but logically I think:

I have been told that my English is terrible, everytimeI speak english

(present perfect passive ... something happened in the past and continues to the present)

I was told (once in past) that I can ask questions in this forum.
(past simple passive ... something happened in past)

Wolfe

Philip · Answer

WolfeMy English is not good (ok I must admit it's almost awful), but logically I think:I have been told that my English is terrible, everytime I speak english (present perfect passive ... something happened in the past and continues to the present)I was told (once in past) that I can ask questions in this forum.(past simple passive ... something happened in past) Wolfe

Welcome to the Forums, Wolfe!

There's nothing wrong with your logic, as what you have explained is correct, by the book. However, I would add that the two could be interchangeable in many situations. [For example. In my sentence here, I used have explained not because I plan to continue explaining, but rather because my explanation will continue to be true (we hope).]

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you Wolfe.

Do you mean people continue to tell the person something until the present with 'have been told'?

Your explanation with 'was told' makes sense to me now. Thanks.

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks Philip for your input.

WolfeI have been told that my English is terrible, everytime I speak english

In Wolfe's example, does the present perfect 'have been told' mean that what he was told about his English will continue to be true up to the present?

If simple past was used with the same example, it means his English is no longer terrible? Or not necessarily?

Wolfe · Answer

...till present but it may also continue in future. (I think).

You are welcome, I'm glad I have helped you

Wolfe · Answer

Actually I answered the first question in my previous entry.

If I used "I was told that my english is terrible." doesn't mean it is not nowadays.
But someone told me, me that, but noone keeps telling me that.

Btw now I have question. Can I say "...but noone keeps telling me that anymore ?"
it looks like double negation to me. (noone + anymore - as far as I know word "any" is used in negative sentences (except exceptions).

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousWhat is the difference between the following?
I was told...
I have been told...Without a complete sentence it's hard to illustrate the difference. Just a few words like this makes the discussion too abstract. What were you told? What have you been told? Suppose we complete the sentences so we have more to work with.

1. I was told that Lucy was/is getting married.

2. I have been told that Lucy is getting married.

The first is more appropriate in a narrative. You're talking about yourself. You're telling what happened to you in the course of a incident you are relating. Certain things were said during a conversation. You were given information about Lucy at some point during that conversation. The conversation continued.

I was told that Paul was going to take a new job. Then I was told that Lucy was getting married. Then I was told that Karen was taking a trip to Alaska.
________________

The second is more appropriate when you are having a conversation, and Lucy comes up as a topic of conversation. You are all talking about Lucy. Someone has heard a rumor that she is getting married. You confirm this by saying that you have been told about it, too.

-- I hear that Lucy is going with that new guy from accounting, and they're getting serious.
-- They are together a lot.
-- I have been told that she is getting married.*
-- What? I didn't know that.

*Just to make things more confusing, you can -- in this particular case -- use "I was told that she was getting married". So this isn't the best example for showing the difference between the past and the present perfect.

__________________

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you, CJ. If I've understood your explanation correctly, the simple past in the example is normally used when talking about oneself, whereas the present perfect is usually used when talking about someone else.

CalifJim-- I hear that Lucy is going with that new guy from accounting, and they're getting serious.
-- They are together a lot.
-- I have been told that she is getting married.*
-- What? I didn't know that.

In your example, can we also use the present perfect "I have heard that..." and "They have been together..."?
How are they different from the simple present in the given context?
Can we also say "I heard that..." (simple past)?

Was told vs. have been told

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