When do I use "Have been to" and when do I use "Have gone to"?

"Have been to": the speaker is back home. Typical in experience questions: "Have you ever been to Rome?" "Have gone to": the person is NOT where they are speaking from. Describes someone absent: "She has gone to the store" (she's there now, not here). Trap with "I": "I have gone to Paris" only makes sense written from Paris (you're still there). In a normal conversation, "I have been to Paris" = sharing your experience.

What is the most common mistake with "Have been to" and "Have gone to"?

"I have gone to Paris" when you are here is wrong: it means you are still there. If you have already returned: "I have BEEN TO Paris". "Gone to" = still there; "been to" = already back.

How do I remember the difference between "Have been to" and "Have gone to"?

The suitcase question: Is the luggage back home? HAVE BEEN TO (the trip is done, back already). Is the luggage still there? HAVE GONE TO (not back yet). "She has been to Paris" = she came back. "She has gone to Paris" = she's still there.

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Have been tovsHave gone to

'Have been to' means you visited a place and have returned; 'have gone to' means someone left and is still there.

Side-by-side comparison

Have been to

structure

"Have been to" indicates you went to a place and have already come back. The experience is over and you are back here.

Have you ever been to Japan? I went two years ago and absolutely loved it.
She has been to that new Italian restaurant three times already, she loves it.
I have been to the cinema twice this month, the new releases have been really good.

Have gone to

structure

"Have gone to" indicates you went to a place and have not come back yet. The person is still there or on the way.

She has gone to the market to buy some vegetables, she will be back in twenty minutes.
He has gone to bed already, he had a really long day and was exhausted by eight.
Has she gone to the doctor yet? She mentioned her knee was still hurting a lot.

Common mistake

•"I have gone to Paris" when you are here is wrong: it means you are still there.
•If you have already returned: "I have BEEN TO Paris".
•"Gone to" = still there; "been to" = already back.

Trick to remember it

•The suitcase question: Is the luggage back home? HAVE BEEN TO (the trip is done, back already). Is the luggage still there? HAVE GONE TO (not back yet).
•"She has been to Paris" = she came back. "She has gone to Paris" = she's still there.

Quick rule

•"Have been to": the speaker is back home. Typical in experience questions: "Have you ever been to Rome?"
•"Have gone to": the person is NOT where they are speaking from. Describes someone absent: "She has gone to the store" (she's there now, not here).
•Trap with "I": "I have gone to Paris" only makes sense written from Paris (you're still there). In a normal conversation, "I have been to Paris" = sharing your experience.

Did you know?

The difference between "have been to" and "have gone to" is built into English grammar. "She has been to Paris" means she visited and has come back. "She has gone to Paris" means she is still there, or on her way. Many languages leave this to context; English makes you choose.