I have traveled to Chile once 20 years ago

[alpacinou]

Hello

Is it ever correct to mention the specific time of an incident when we use "present perfect" ?

Or should always avoid that?

Can these be correct?

This kind of meeting has happened once 20 years ago.

I have traveled to Chile once 20 years ago.

 

[GoesStation]

I hesitate to make a blanket statement, but the two sample sentences are not possible.

 

[jutfrank]

I hesitate to make a blanket statement

Very wise.

Actually, we do quite naturally mention specific past time phrases in the same breath as present perfect clauses.

I've travelled to Chile once—twenty years ago.

Note however that the sentence above consists of two separate utterances, which explains the need for the punctuation.

 

[GoesStation]

Actually, we do quite naturally mention specific past time phrases in the same breath as present perfect clauses.

I've travelled to Chile once—twenty years ago.

Note however that the sentence above consists of two separate utterances, which explains the need for the punctuation.

Only the past simple works for me there. I think this is a British/American difference that we've discussed here before.

 

[jutfrank]

Only the past simple works for me there. I think this is a British/American difference that we've discussed here before.

Really? I don't think there's anything special about American English in this respect. Think of it like this:

I've travelled to Chile once—[and that was] twenty tears ago.

 

[GoesStation]

Think of it like this:

I've travelled to Chile once—[and that was] twenty tears ago.

Not impossible, I guess, but I'd still favor the past simple.