'there ever was' vs 'there has ever been'

[Offroad]

Be the most committed guy there ever was.
Be the most committed guy that there has ever existed/been.

Dear teachers,

Are those correct English?

Thank you

 

[panglossa]

With correction to '...that there has ever been', yes.

Both tenses are possible here with no significant difference in meaning.

 

[konungursvia]

I would accept "He was the most committed guy there ever was" or the other equivalent, but using the imperative, which to me is something of a subjunctive intended to be associated with the present or future, doesn't work well for me here, in your examples, alongside the past tense.

 

[Offroad]

The first one is not mine. The second is an attempt of 'correcting' the first assuming it is wrong or at least not standard.

'Be the most committed person that there has ever been' makes more sense IMO.

Thank you

 

[konungursvia]

Me too, o meu amigo.