When learning about the Present Perfect tense, students are surprised to see that the verb “go” has two past participles (third form):
- Go – went – gone/been
This is to mark the following difference:
- Mark has been to Paris.
(Sometime in his life, he went to Paris, but now he is not there.)
- Mark has gone to Paris.
(Mark went to Paris some time ago- maybe this morning, maybe yesterday- and now he is there.)
Another example:
- Claire’s been to the baker’s. You don’t need to buy any bread.
(She is not at the baker’s now. Maybe she has already come home.)
- Where is Claire?
- She’s gone to the baker’s.
(She is at the baker’s now.)
Recommended for you: How to make Past Participle, Present Perfect Sentences etc.?
