...have been been to visit ...

Status
Not open for further replies.

Odessa Dawn

Key Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2012
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Arabic
Home Country
Saudi Arabia
Current Location
Saudi Arabia


Buskila began his hunger strike on Wednesday, and since then has been camped outside the prime minister's office in Jerusalem. Ministers and Knesset members have been been to visit Buskila, but have yet to find a solution to the town's crisis.


More:Sderot mayor launches 4th day of hunger strike - Israel News, Ynetnews


I think that present perfect continuous 'have been visiting' is perfectly suitable, isn't it?
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland


Buskila began his hunger strike on Wednesday, and since then has been camped outside the prime minister's office in Jerusalem. Ministers and Knesset members have been been to visit Buskila, but have yet to find a solution to the town's crisis.


More:Sderot mayor launches 4th day of hunger strike - Israel News, Ynetnews


I think that present perfect continuous 'have been visiting' is perfectly suitable, isn't it?

Yes, it is, but the original is fine too.
 

ostap77

Key Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Ukrainian
Home Country
Ukraine
Current Location
Ukraine
What tense would that be? Why is it "....have been been to visit..." not "...have been to ..." or "have been on a visit..."?
 

Raymott

VIP Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Australia
Current Location
Australia
What tense would that be? Why is it "....have been been to visit..." not "...have been to ..." or "have been on a visit..."?
I think the original is a typo which bhai (and the original editors) didn't pick up. There is no tense "have been been ..."
 

ostap77

Key Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Ukrainian
Home Country
Ukraine
Current Location
Ukraine
I've been googling it and there are examples on COCAE where "have been been" is used that would be too many for a typo.
 

emsr2d2

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 28, 2009
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
UK
Current Location
UK
I've been googling it and there are examples on COCAE where "have been been" is used that would be too many for a typo.

Google, COCA or otherwise, "have been been" does not form part of any tense in English.

In my opinion, it should have said "... have been to visit ..." and there was an accidental word repetition, or just perhaps "... have been seen to visit ..." with a typo at the beginning of the word "seen". It think the latter is less likely.
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
I think the original is a typo which bhai (and the original editors) didn't pick up. There is no tense "have been been ..."

Yes, I did miss the other "been". I claim age and failing sight as an excuse.;-)
 

Raymott

VIP Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Member Type
Academic
Native Language
English
Home Country
Australia
Current Location
Australia
I've been googling it and there are examples on COCAE where "have been been" is used that would be too many for a typo.
Oh, OK. So, you're saying it's correct then? Or do you have a third explanation?
In my experience, perseverating like this in writing is quite common. Rather than assuming it's too common to be an error, why not postulate that it's a common error, such as writing two haves or hads in a row? Actually it's not strictly a typographical mistake; it's a psychological phenomenon.
In any case, the structure "have been pp" is possible, "I have been seen/killed/..." But it's transitive. Someone can see me, or kill me, but they can't 'be' me.
"I have been gone for three days" is possible. This is intransitive.
Still, if "have been been" can't be an error, I'd be interested to hear your explanation.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top