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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
"been to" or " been in"
Hi,
Is there a difference between these sentences?
A) "Have you been in New York before?"
B )"Have you been to New York before?"
Some people claim that sentence A has to be applied when the speaker or the speaker and hearer are in New York while talking whereas sentence B is used when the speaker or the speaker and hearer are not in New York.
For instance, most immigration questionaires use the sentence "Have you ever been in the US before?" but I have my doubts if the preference of one preposition towards the other really depends on the location of the speakers.
If there happens to be a clear cut rule, could you please quote from a written reference material ( i.e. grammar book or dictionary)
Thanks for your help
Wolfgang from Vienna
Is there a difference between these sentences?
A) "Have you been in New York before?"
B )"Have you been to New York before?"
Some people claim that sentence A has to be applied when the speaker or the speaker and hearer are in New York while talking whereas sentence B is used when the speaker or the speaker and hearer are not in New York.
For instance, most immigration questionaires use the sentence "Have you ever been in the US before?" but I have my doubts if the preference of one preposition towards the other really depends on the location of the speakers.
If there happens to be a clear cut rule, could you please quote from a written reference material ( i.e. grammar book or dictionary)
Thanks for your help
Wolfgang from Vienna
Top answer
To me, (I am a native speaker), there is no dependence on the current location of the speakers. For the immigration people, the wording "in" means an official entry into the place. For example, if I travel from London to Mexico City through the Washington DC international airport, and change planes without going through immigration, then I have not been "in" the US.
- To me, (I am a native speaker), there is no dependence on the current location of the speakers.
- For the immigration people, the wording "in" means an official entry into the place.
- For example, if I travel from London to Mexico City through the Washington DC international airport, and change planes without going through immigration, then I have not been "in" the US.
- " I am asking if they have visited and toured the sights, not just that they have passed through the city on an interstate highway and never stopped.
- "To X" means that X was an ending destination.
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3 Answers
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To me, (I am a native speaker), there is no dependence on the current location of the speakers.
For the immigration people, the wording "in" means an official entry into the place. For example, if I travel from London to Mexico City through the Washington DC international airport, and change planes without going through immigration, then I have not been "in" the US.
If I meet a
For the immigration people, the wording "in" means an official entry into the place. For example, if I travel from London to Mexico City through the Washington DC international airport, and change planes without going through immigration, then I have not been "in" the US.
If I meet a
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Is there a difference between these sentences?-- No.
A) "Have you been in New York before?"
B )"Have you been to New York before?"
Some people claim that sentence A has to be applied when the speaker or the speaker and hearer are in New York while talking whereas sentence B is used when the speaker or the speaker and hearer are not in New York.-- That is patently
A) "Have you been in New York before?"
B )"Have you been to New York before?"
Some people claim that sentence A has to be applied when the speaker or the speaker and hearer are in New York while talking whereas sentence B is used when the speaker or the speaker and hearer are not in New York.-- That is patently
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Hi,
Is there a difference between these sentences?
A) "Have you been in New York before?"
B )"Have you been to New York before?"
Some people claim that sentence A has to be applied when the speaker or the speaker and hearer are in New York while talking I wouldn't say 'has to', but it is commonly said in th
Is there a difference between these sentences?
A) "Have you been in New York before?"
B )"Have you been to New York before?"
Some people claim that sentence A has to be applied when the speaker or the speaker and hearer are in New York while talking I wouldn't say 'has to', but it is commonly said in th
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