I have been to Italy, France,

[Rachel Adams]

Hello.
When I list countries or things should I write ''and'' before the last word in my list or can it be omitted?
''I have been in India, Germany, Austria, Egypt, Georgia, Spain, Cyprus, (and) Montenegro''.

 

[bubbha]

You need to put "and" before the final item in the list.

 

[Yankee]

Hello.
When I list countries or things should I write ''and'' before the last word in my list or can it be omitted?
''I have been in India, Germany, Austria, Egypt, Georgia, Spain, Cyprus, (and) Montenegro''.

Yes, use "and", and "to India, Germany, Austria etc." "In" would be understood, but suggests a more than casual visit.

 

[emsr2d2]

"I have been in Italy" would be an appropriate response to something like "Where have you been recently?"

 

[Rachel Adams]

Yes, use "and", and "to India, Germany, Austria etc." "In" would be understood, but suggests a more than casual visit.

''In'' suggests a more than casual visit and is used as a response to where I have been recently? :-? Could you please explain once again? Sorry, I didn't understand the difference.

 

[emsr2d2]

I didn't make the point about a casual visit and I don't necessarily agree with it. Here's how I would use them:

Helen: I tried to call you several times over the last six weeks. Where have you been?
John: Oh, I have been in Italy. I only got home last night! That explains why you couldn't get hold of me.

Helen: Have you been on holiday this year?
Sarah: Yes.
Helen: Where have you been?
Sarah: I've been to Italy, India and Senegal.
Helen: Wow! You're well-travelled!
Sarah: I know. It's been a great year for holidays so far.

 

[Yankee]

I didn't make the point about a casual visit and I don't necessarily agree with it. Here's how I would use them:

Helen: I tried to call you several times over the last six weeks. Where have you been?
John: Oh, I have been in Italy. I only got home last night! That explains why you couldn't get hold of me.

Helen: Have you been on holiday this year?
Sarah: Yes.
Helen: Where have you been?
Sarah: I've been to Italy, India and Senegal.
Helen: Wow! You're well-travelled!
Sarah: I know. It's been a great year for holidays so far.

I believe "six weeks in Italy" would be more than a casual visit.

 

[emsr2d2]

To be honest, I'm not quite clear on what you mean by a casual visit. For me, you're either on holiday or you're on a business trip. Someone travelling round Italy for six weeks for fun is just on holiday. I don't really associate the word "casual" with trips.

 

[Yankee]

I didn't make the point about a casual visit and I don't necessarily agree with it. Here's how I would use them:

Helen: I tried to call you several times over the last six weeks. Where have you been?
John: Oh, I have been in Italy. I only got home last night! That explains why you couldn't get hold of me.

Helen: Have you been on holiday this year?
Sarah: Yes.
Helen: Where have you been?
Sarah: I've been to Italy, India and Senegal.
Helen: Wow! You're well-travelled!
Sarah: I know. It's been a great year for holidays so far.

So, what word/term would you use to describe the difference between John's "I have been in Italy" (six weeks), and Sarah's "I've been to...…".

 

[emsr2d2]

I'd use "I've been to Italy" when stating a fact about a particular destination I've visited with no timeframe required. I could have been there in 1967, 1991, 2002 or last week. I'd use "I've been in Italy" to refer to somewhere I came back from fairly recently, regardless of the length of the trip, and when someone specifically asked me about my whereabouts.