Grammar · Free lesson
Has been or has gone: is the person back?
A colleague asks where Leo is. First he is out on a trip to the post office. Later he returns to his desk. The useful update changes when he comes back.
Professor Scott MendozaThe short answer
In these updates, Leo has gone to the post office means he left and has not returned yet. Leo has been to the post office means he made the visit and came back. Check the return status before choosing the participle.
Follow the return journey, not just the outward trip.
Both updates use has plus a participle. Gone to describes the trip away as still incomplete from the office’s point of view. Been to reports the completed visit. For this task, the key fact is whether he has returned, not how far the post office is.
Two updates at different moments
Leo has gone to the post office.
Leo has been to the post office.
He’s back at his desk now.
Has gone to does not track his exact location. He could still be on the way; the update tells us he has not returned from this trip.
Check one missing fact
Ask about the return
Has he returned?
Choose the update for an incomplete trip
No → He has gone to the post office.
Choose the update for a completed visit
Yes → He has been to the post office.
Try it now
Choose the update that fits the return status.
Read all answers and explanations
Leo left for the post office and has not returned. Choose the present-perfect update for this trip.
Leo has gone to the post office.Has gone to matches his current absence. Has been to would report the completed visit; has went does not use the required participle.
Leo visited the post office and is now back at his desk. Choose the present-perfect update for the completed visit.
Leo has been to the post office.Has been to fits a visit followed by a return. Has gone to would present him as still away on this trip. Went is not the participle after has.
A colleague says, “Leo has gone to the post office.” What does this update tell you about the current trip?
He has not returned from this trip yet.He has not returned from this trip. The update does not prove he is already at the counter; he could be travelling. It does not report a completed return.
Put it into practice
Update two colleagues’ trips.
Leo is still away on his trip to the post office. Ava has returned from hers. Keep their names in this order and make both present-perfect updates match.
Leo has been to the post office. Ava has gone to the post office.
See a model answer
Leo has gone to the post office. Ava has been to the post office.
Both sentences can be grammatical on their own, but each must fit the person’s actual return status.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Is Leo went to the post office wrong?
No. That is a valid past-simple sentence. It reports the past trip but does not by itself make the same returned-versus-still-away distinction. Our questions specifically ask for a present-perfect update.
Leo went to the post office this morning.
Does been always mean someone came back?
No. Look at the whole construction. For example, been busy describes a state, not a journey and return. The contrast here is been to and gone to in the stated travel situation.
Leo has been busy all morning.
Take it into your day
Still away on this trip: has gone to. Visit finished and back: has been to.
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