Present Perfect: “Have You Ever Been to (a Place)?”

Have you ever been to Rome, Italy?

You can use the present perfect to talk about a place, city, or country you have visited. The present perfect is used to talk about if, at any point in your life in the past, you have visited or traveled to a specific place. The present perfect is not used to talk about when you did something. It is used to talk about if you did something!

Correct answers:

Yes, …
I have!
I’ve been to Rome (once, twice, etc.).
I’ve been there (once, twice, etc.).

No, …
I haven’t!
I haven’t been to Italy.
I haven’t been there.
I’ve never been to Rome.
I’ve never been there.

Incorrect answers:

X: I’ve ever been to Rome.
X: I’ve been to there.
X: I’ve been to Rome in 2005.
X: I’ve never been in Rome.

Ever

Ever is not used in present perfect statements. It is only used in questions with the present perfect.

Of course, there is an exception to this. When you make a superlative statement, for example when you want to say that something is the best, you can use ever.

Rome is the most beautiful city I’ve ever been to in the world!

Be

It is common in English to use the verb be when you talk about places you have visited. Don’t use visit. This sounds formal and unnatural.

Have you visited Canada?

To

Prepositions don’t translate between languages. In English, you must use the preposition to when you talk about places you have visited. This may be different from the preposition you use in your language. That’s OK! You just need to remember to use to in English!

I’ve been to Australia.

She’s been to 45 out of the 50 states in America.

Past Simple

Use the past simple verb tense to talk about when you visited a place.

Have you ever been to Rome?
– Yes, I’ve been to Rome! I went to Rome in 2005.