your story happens in the past vs your story happened in the past

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Your story happens in the past' is used when describing a story that is currently ongoing but set in the past, while 'your story happened in the past' is used when referring to a story that has already concluded.

Last updated: March 31, 2024 • 2863 views

This phrase is correct and is used when describing a story that is currently ongoing but set in the past.

"your story happens in the past"

This phrase is used to indicate that the events of the story are taking place in the past, even though the storytelling is happening in the present.

Examples:

The novel I'm writing happens in the past, during World War II.

Show examples from the web [+]

That did not happen in the past.
BERKELEY - One disturbing thing about studying economic history is how things that happen in the present change the past - or at least our understanding of the past.
When you write your story about us, compare me to one of these homes boarded up, a thing of the past, a relic to be sold for taxes.
You currently coordinate such things in the Commission and that did not happen in the past.
I want you to know I have one rule: whatever happens in the past, stays in the past.
I know how much that tower meant to you, to all of you, but you can't change what happens in the past.
In the past, communities could afford to think of one another as fundamentally today, as we learn from the recent tragic events in the United States, whatever happens in one region eventually affects many other areas.
Anything new happen in the past hour?
Now, we have everything in the past that has ever happened down there, and we have everything that ever could happen in the future up here.
It's not about what happened in the past... or what you think might happen in the future.
Did anything happen in the past... that you were all involved in?
I am thinking of severe discrimination and bullying in the workplace against women who are pregnant or intend to marry and who are called on to resign beforehand, which is something that happens in my country but is no longer a crime as it was in the past.
Our story happens to be the truth.
The CIA can make that story happen.
He and many other contributors to this debate have reflected on how both Parliament and the Commission have been able to look at what has happened in the past and try and guess - educated guesses - about what may happen in the future.
I would like, therefore, to ask the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic to speak and to present the opinion of the Presidency on the past six months and on what should happen in the near future.
Every day in the heart of Africa, amazing true stories happen that no one ever sees.
Every day in the heart of Africa, amazing true stories happen that no one ever sees.
You are here again because l wanted to hear your story...
Save your story of creation, please...

Alternatives:

Your story is set in the past

This phrase is correct and is used when referring to a story that has already concluded.

"your story happened in the past"

This phrase is used to describe a story that took place in the past and is no longer ongoing.

Examples:

I heard your story happened in the past, is that true?

Show examples from the web [+]

For everything that happened in the past.
Just to tell you, two stories happened in the last two years.
This bloody story happened in 17. century It began with an act of violence
We know how frequently that's happened in the past.
What happened in the past hour?
He forgives me for anything that happened in the past.
A lot's happened in the past year...
This has happened in the past.
Something that happened in the past, so...
But whatever happened in the past, I...
Three deaths which happened in the past year.
What has happened in the past weeks is, alas, no contribution to stability.
Lot's happened in the past 24 hours.
And that is what happened in the past.
All of our life experiences, ...including this conversation, happened in the past.
Fires and floods have happened in the past and will always continue to happen.
Much has happened in the past year.
Things that happened in the past.
But if you spend too much time obsessing over the past or something that happened in the past, you can lose focus on the present situation.
What happened in the past is the past.

Alternatives:

Your story took place in the past

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your story happens in the past vs your story happened in the past