Present perfect vs simple past

PonyFanIf it were "It has been a thousand years since I saw you like this.", would the meaning of the sentence change from the original?

No.

Or would the register such as formality change?

PonyFanIf it were "It has been a thousand years since I saw you like this.", would the meaning of the sentence change from the original?

No, but I don't think you'll find it written like that. The present perfect makes more sense because you're talking about an entire period of time (1000 years) ending at the present moment during which you have not seen (who

I often come across the sentence pattern of "It has been (duration of time) since S V(simple past)." such as
"It's been a year since I met him." Could I get you to tell me why simple past can be used there, whereas it's not acceptable in the above sentence?

PonyFanCould I get you to tell me why simple past can be used there, whereas it's not acceptable in the above sentence?

There is no difference in the acceptability between the two sentences. While present perfect is arguably superior in careful English, most people would not notice any error if the simple past was used.

PonyFanCould I get you to tell me why simple past can be used there

You met him once at a specific time. "meet" in the sense of "be introduced for the first time" is a dynamic verb. This does not mean I haven't met him for a year. It means I met him a year ago.

Likewise, it would be better to say It's been a year since [Mother died

GPYThere is no difference in the acceptability between the two sentences. While present perfect is arguably superior in careful English, most people would not notice any error if the simple past was used.

Please ignore this. I didn't look at it properly.

CalifJim: The focus is not on the last moment of seeing, but on the time of not seeing.

Which means if you want to stress the achievement of your temperance, it would be better to say "It's been a year since I've drunk alcohol than to say "It's been a year since I drank alcohol."?

PonyFanWhich means if you want to stress the achievement of your temperance, it would be better to say "It's been a year since I've drunk alcohol than to say "It's been a year since I drank alcohol."?