The present perfect forms have gone to and have been to are often confused in English. However, there are
clear differences between the two forms.
The present perfect forms have gone to and have been to are commonly used to refer to movement to another place. Notice the differences in the examples below.
Has / Have Gone to in Present Perfect Tense
Has / have gone to refers to someone who has gone to a place but has but not yet returned.
In other words, someone who has gone to Hawaii is still in Hawaii having a good time.
Here are some examples:
He’s gone to the bank. He should be back soon.
Where has Tom gone to?
They’ve gone to a business conference for the week.
Has / Have Been to in Present Perfect Tense
Has / have been to refers to a place which someone has visited at some time in their life. In other words, has been to refers to an experience that involves travel. The form has / have been to always indicate that the person has returned or is no longer there.
Here are some examples:
He’s been to London many times.
I’ve been to Disneyland twice.
If you need money, ask Tom. He’s been to the bank today.
Been to vs. Gone to Summary
- Been to: Refers to visiting a place and returning.
- Gone to: Refers to someone traveling to a place and still being there or on their way.
You can include examples for both in a structured table for better clarity.
| Phrase | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Been to | Visited a place and returned. | “I’ve been to Paris twice.” |
| Gone to | Traveled to a place and is still there or hasn’t returned. | “She has gone to the store.” |
Other Similar Expressions
1. Been in
Definition:
- Refers to someone being physically present in a place for a period of time, often emphasizing duration.
Examples:
- “She has been in London for three months.” (She is still in London now.)
- “I have been in this class since 9 a.m.” (I have not left the class yet.)
Common Usage Tip:
Use been in to focus on time spent in a place or an ongoing stay.
Compare with:
- “She has been to London three times.” (Emphasizes past visits, not ongoing presence.)
2. Been away
Definition:
- Refers to someone being absent from a usual or expected location, often indicating time spent elsewhere.
Examples:
- “I’ve been away for a week.” (I went somewhere else and just came back.)
- “He has been away on business.” (He is currently not here because of work.)
Common Usage Tip:
Use been away when referring to someone’s absence from their usual location or home.
3. Gone for
Definition:
- Indicates someone has left a location for a specific purpose or duration.
Examples:
- “She has gone for a walk.” (She is not back yet; she’s currently out walking.)
- “They have gone for lunch.” (They are eating lunch somewhere now.)
Common Usage Tip:
Use gone for to highlight the purpose of the absence or action.
4. Been there
Definition:
- Refers to having personal experience with a situation or place, often informally.
Examples:
- “I’ve been there before—it’s a lovely restaurant.”
- “Oh, I’ve been there! It’s tough to lose your wallet.” (Refers to an emotional or relatable experience.)
- “Been there, done that” (I’ve already gone through this, so I know how it goes.)
Common Usage Tip:
This phrase can be literal (place) or metaphorical (situation).
Practice Exercise
Fill in the blanks with “been in,” “been away,” “gone for,” or “been there”:
- I’ve ______ Paris for a year, and I love it here.
- She has ______ a walk to the park; she’ll be back soon.
- I’ve ______ on vacation, so I didn’t see your message.
- He has ______ before — it’s hard when you lose your first job.
Answers:
- been in
- gone for
- been away
- been there