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Could I answer in three ways like these:

  1. It’s three three years since I met my boss.
  2. It’s three years since I last met my boss.
  3. It’s three years since I first met my boss.

I think the first and the second are somehow similar, but the third is not correct? Please explain to me.

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  • I have combined your "answer" into the question where it should be. Please delete your "answer"
    – Peter Jennings
    Commented Nov 28, 2022 at 0:14
  • Note than an American native English speaker would almost certainly say "It's been three years" instead of "It's three years".
    – shadowtalker
    Commented Nov 28, 2022 at 0:46

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The first sentence can mean either 3 years have passed since you last met your boss, or you met your boss for the first time 3 years ago. It depends on context.

The second sentence means - you haven't met your boss for 3 years, but you may have met him several times prior to that (more than 3 years ago).

The third sentence means the opposite - you met your boss for the first time 3 years ago and [may] have met him many times since, but not before.

To avoid any ambiguity, maybe you should say either

It has been 3 years since I last met my boss.

or

I met my boss for the first time 3 years ago.

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  • I am a native English speaker, and I would interpret 1 as being identical to 3, and 2 as being a special case. If you wanted a synonym for 2, I would suggest "It's been three years since I saw my boss".
    – shadowtalker
    Commented Nov 28, 2022 at 0:46
  • @shadowtalker Now you mention it, I partially agree. I think the first sentence is actually ambiguous and I'm going to change my answer to reflect this.
    – Peter Jennings
    Commented Nov 28, 2022 at 0:55

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