would ?

Anonymoushave been there

This expresses actual past experience of something.
e.g.,
A: Would you like to go to Central Park?
B: I've been there. I'd like to go somewhere else.

Anonymouswould have been there

This is tentative/imaginary.
e.g.,
A: Why weren't you at the party last Friday?

Anonymousdifference between " have been there" and "would have been there"

If you have been there, you were really at that place at some time in the past.
If you would have been there, you were not at that place because, although you intended to be there, something prevented it.

CJ

CalifJimIf you would have been there, you were not at that place because, although you intended to be there, something prevented it.

But how about my third example above, Jim?

A: Do you think Jack went to the meeting?
B: Oh yes, he would have been there. He's attended every club meeting as far as I know.

teechrBut how about my third example above, Jim?

Oops! It's a different usage of "would" that contradicts the one I was thinking of. It's one of the non-conditional uses. I call it "will-would of probability", though not everyone likes the name because it often indicates certainty or near-certainty.