"I've been to" and "I've been in"

[pedro8686]

Could someone answer my question, please?

I read a thread about that issue, but I didn't find out the right answer.

What is the exact difference between:
1) I've been to London.
2) I've been in London.
3) Have you been to London?
4) Have you been in London?


Thank you

[Humble]

It has been discussed before, I think. Try the search button.

[ian2]

Could someone answer my question, please?

I read a thread about that issue, but I didn't find out the right answer.

What is the exact difference between:
1) I've been to London.
2) I've been in London.
3) Have you been to London?
4) Have you been in London?


Thank you

When I say "I have been to London", I mean I visited London before, but I don't have to be physically in London at the time when I say the sentence. But When I say "I have been in London for three days", I mean I am still in London.

[ian2]

It has been discussed before, I think. Try the search button.

Dear Humble:

following your instructions I searched the site and found the answers. But Tdol defines "To" as traveling and "IN" as location. Do you think my answer also makes some sense? If I am wrong, let me know. Thanks.

Ian2

[Tdol]

Your answer makes sense to me.

[pedro8686]

So, when I say: "I've been to London for three days" that means I don't have to be there now (but I can) ?

I still don't know if I am right:
"to" - indicates that I am/was in a place because I am just travelling
"in" - indicates that I am in a place because I live there/I lived there before or I visited it, but now I am somewhere else

??

Could someone clarify it, please?

[fiona bramble]

So, when I say: "I've been to London for three days" that means I don't have to be there now (but I can) ?

I still don't know if I am right:
"to" - indicates that I am/was in a place because I am just travelling
"in" - indicates that I am in a place because I live there/I lived there before or I visited it, but now I am somewhere else

??

Could someone clarify it, please?

Whoa.......now I'm confused
I think that "I've been to London" could mean [When I say "I have been to London", I mean I visited London before, but I don't have to be physically in London at the time when I say the sentence] but I have also heard people (especially in BE) say "I've been to London" as in "I just got back from London", which carries the same meaning as "I've been in London".

Here in Canada though, I would say that most people say "I've been to London", meaning "I have travelled to London" (unspecific time in the past or perhaps many times in the past) or "I've been in London", meaning "I have just been staying in London" (recent past)

Hope that doesn't make things more confusing!

[user_gary]

You are discussing about "have been to `some places'".
I wonder if we can use it to problems/situations. e.g. "I have been to that situation", "I have been in this problem for the first time".

Please help me.