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I have been there once vs I was there once

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "I have been there once" is used to emphasize the experience of having been to a place one time. "I was there once" is used to simply state that you visited in the past.
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Explained by Camille
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: September 01, 2024

I have been there once

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to emphasize the experience of having visited a place at least once in your life.

This phrase is used to talk about past experiences of visiting a place. It implies that the action of visiting happened at an unspecified time in the past.

Examples:

  • I have been to Paris once.
  • She has been to Japan before.
  • Have you been to that restaurant before?
  • He has been to the Grand Canyon.
  • They have been to the beach many times.

Alternatives:

  • I visited there once.
  • I went there once.
  • I have visited there before.
  • I have gone there before.
  • I have been there a few times.

I was there once

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to simply state that you visited a place at a specific time in the past.

This phrase is used to talk about a specific past event of visiting a place. It indicates that the action of visiting happened at a known or specified time in the past.

Examples:

  • I was in London once.
  • She was at the party last night.
  • He was at the museum yesterday.
  • They were at the concert on Saturday.
  • We were there together last year.

Alternatives:

  • I went there once.
  • I visited there once.
  • I had been there once.
  • I had visited there once.
  • I had gone there once.

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