từng is used when speakers want to set up a contrast between the past and now.
Speakers use từng₃ to say: “This was true before, but it is not true anymore (or no longer fully true).” The focus is not just on past experience, but on change over time.
Speakers use từng to highlight that something used to be one way, but the present is different.
[1] – Anh ấy từng rất nhút nhát. He used to be very shy (but he isn’t now).
[2] – Đây từng là một làng nhỏ. This used to be a small village.
từng is often used to contrast who someone was before with who they are now.
[3] – Cô ấy từng là sinh viên nghèo. She used to be a poor student.
[4] – Công ty này từng rất nổi tiếng. This company used to be very famous.
Speakers use từng when looking back with distance, reflection, or nostalgia.
[5] – Hai người từng rất thân với nhau. They used to be very close.
[6] – Thành phố này từng yên bình lắm. This city used to be very peaceful.
từng₃ vs đã
– từng₃: highlights change from past to present – đã: simply marks past time or completion
[7a] – Anh ấy từng giàu. He used to be rich (but not now).
[7b] – Anh ấy đã giàu. He was rich (no clear contrast with now).
từng₃ vs xưa / trước đây
– từng₃: focuses on contrast and change – xưa / trước đây: focuses on time in the past
[8a] – Nơi này từng rất đông. This place used to be very crowded.
[8b] – Trước đây, nơi này rất đông. In the past, this place was crowded.
• từng₃ usually comes before verbs or adjectives.
• Strongly suggests that the situation is no longer true now.
• Often used in descriptions, storytelling, reflection.
• Can sound neutral, nostalgic, or slightly emotional, depending on context.
• Time words are often not necessary because the contrast is implied.
• từng + adjective
– từng trẻ used to be young
– từng nổi tiếng used to be famous
• từng + là + noun
– từng là học sinh giỏi used to be a good student
• từng … nhưng giờ / bây giờ…
– Anh ấy từng nghèo, nhưng giờ giàu rồi. He used to be poor, but now he’s rich.
từng₃ looks backward to make the present stand out: what was true then is not the same now.