Is it possible to use present perfect with "long ago"?

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Viceidol  #545939  Thu, 24 Jul 08 04:31 PM

Hello, everyone:

I know that we don't use present perfect with the phrase like "2 years ago", "one minute ago", but can we use present perfect with "long ago"?

Thank you for answering my question!

  
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Philip  #545941  Thu, 24 Jul 08 04:38 PM
Generally, no.  But you could say, "I have seen that film, but it was long ago".
  
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Cool Breeze  #545944  Thu, 24 Jul 08 04:44 PM
Philip
Generally, no.  But you could say, "I have seen that film, but it was long ago".

 

Very smart, Philip.Smile Now, however, long ago is not in the same clause as the perfect have seen. We could of course also say: I have seen that film, but it was two years ago.

As to the original question, language is not an exact science. It's not math. It is impossible  -  or at least a little stupid to say that something is never or always done or said. There is often the unexpected exception to most rules.

CB

  
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Philip  #545945  Thu, 24 Jul 08 04:48 PM
Cool Breeze
Philip
Generally, no.  But you could say, "I have seen that film, but it was long ago".

 

Very smart, Philip.Smile Now, however, long ago is not in the same clause as the perfect have seen. We could of course also say: I have seen that film, but it was two years ago.


 

Exactly.  I was just trying to show how 'long ago' could be associated with the concept.
  
CalifJim  #545972  Thu, 24 Jul 08 06:21 PM
Cool Breeze
or at least a little stupid to say that something is never or always done or said.
OK.  I'm going to get a little stupid.  Never use ago in the same clause with a present perfect!  Smile

CJ 

  
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Yankee  #545982  Thu, 24 Jul 08 06:57 PM

CalifJim
OK.  I'm going to get a little stupid.  Never use ago in the same clause with a present perfect! 
OK, and I'm going to take that as a challenge to prove the exception:

From the BYU Corpus:
"Some of the recipe cards are in my mother's handwriting. Others are from friends, many of whom have long ago moved away."

Stick out tongue
  
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Goodman  #545991  Thu, 24 Jul 08 08:04 PM

 

I don’t want to add fuel to the already fired up discussion but I was taught as a rule of thumb, that “since” and “ago” usage should be avoided in a present perfect sentence.

I know there is another camp which sees it differently.

I have been living in California since 3 years ago –to some this is acceptable. I was taught this is non-standard.
Somehow, the word "ago" just doesn't seem to stick to present perfect tense to me.

  
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Yankee  #546003  Thu, 24 Jul 08 08:55 PM
Hi Goodman

I don't see the previous conversation as "fired up".  On the contrary, I think it has been quite friendly. 
I agree that 'ago' will generally not be found in the same clause with the present perfect, but I agree with Cool Breeze one thousand percent that it's dangerous to get too absolute when it comes to grammar "rules".

A good rule of thumb is always handy to have.  However, most "rules of thumb" should be seen as rules that work much of the time rather than all the time.
  
Goodman  #546018  Thu, 24 Jul 08 10:01 PM
Hi Amy,
most "rules of thumb" should be seen as rules that work much of the time rather than all the time.
I case I have not stated it clearly, that was the meaning I intended. Perhaps I may have inappropriately used "fired up" to suggests heavily discussed. It was figuratively over used.
I am of course not a grammarian and never will be one. Much of my knowledge has been obtained from walking the footprints of different styles of writers and from reading. My comments are not
to point out right or wrong, but how I was taught.
  
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