Yes, once, three years ago.

Question

I know that sentences like (a) are grammatical and those like (b) are ungrammatical.

How about (c)? Is it correct?

I am wondering about this because I think that ‘Yes’ means ‘Yes, I have been to Europe’ (present perfect tense).

I went to Europe three years ago. --- (a)

I have been to Europe three years ago. --- (b)

John: Have you ever been to Europe?

Mary: Yes, once, three years ago. --- (c)

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Koji from JapanHow about (c)? Is it correct?
...
Yes, once, three years ago. --- (c)

We would paraphrase (c) as

Yes, I have been to Europe once, (but that was) three years ago.

Koji from JapanI am wondering about this

It's something I've wondered about, too, but I explain it to myself as a sort of change of viewpoint once you add information about specific times to a clause in the present perfect tense. In a way, it's adding a second clause in the simple past. Either a separate sentence or a change of speaker can create this change of viewpoint. For some writers even a dash is enough. (I've been to London — 10 years ago.) But I wouldn't go that far, especially not in any writing for academic work.

CJ

Yes, once, three years ago.

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