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Old 31-Jan-2007, 08:53
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Default I have been to Paris many times...

A conversation:

- Did mom tell you? I've been to Paris!
- Oh? I've been to Paris many times...Lovely city!

Can second phrase be in past simple tense? like:

- Oh? I was in Paris many times...

Is it noticeable mistake (if at all)?
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Old 31-Jan-2007, 09:09
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Default Re: I have been to Paris many times...

Welcome, alrod.

The simple past is possible, yes. The second speaker adopts the present perfect because it mirrors or agrees with what the 1st speaker said.

All the best.
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Old 31-Jan-2007, 09:16
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Default Re: I have been to Paris many times...

thank you.......
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Old 31-Jan-2007, 09:23
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Default Re: I have been to Paris many times...

You're welcome.
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Old 31-Jan-2007, 13:50
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Default Re: I have been to Paris many times...

One more question(s)
Can the perfect tense be used in first sentence? Like:

- Has mom told you I had been to Paris?

It looks right grammatically (I think) but I hear something awkward in that.

or may be

- Has mom told you I was in Paris?

It may be right too but that little changes the meaning (I was in Paris but may be long time ago, not recently) does it?
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Old 31-Jan-2007, 14:19
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Default Re: I have been to Paris many times...

Take a look here first: Noun Clauses/Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)
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Old 31-Jan-2007, 14:54
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Default Re: I have been to Paris many times...

Great!
So I correct myself:

- Has mom told you that I was in Paris?
- Did mom tell you that I had been to Paris?

(the last it a little heavy, my opinion)
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Old 31-Jan-2007, 14:55
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Default Re: I have been to Paris many times...

Why does it sound 'heavy' to you?
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Old 31-Jan-2007, 16:17
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Default Re: I have been to Paris many times...

Because I learned simple tenses before perfect and instinctively I prefer to use simple past instead present/past perfect.
So, personally, I would say:

- Did mom tell you that I was in Paris last week?

(simple past with pointing to the specific time)
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Old 01-Feb-2007, 12:27
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Default Re: I have been to Paris many times...

Continuity helps too: Did...was...

All the best.
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