dicussing the past

Question

First of all I am new to computer communication , so I will thank you for your help now in case I am unable to send thanks after !
I am a beginner in spanish and all that I have learnt so far seems to center around
the present and the future.
How would I say " I have been " as in "I have been to or I have been here before"
How would I say " I went to " as in " I went there yesterday "

Answer 1

James said:

To add to what Heidita has told you:

If you want to say "I have been to England twice," it would be "He ido a Inglaterra dos veces." Note that when you mention the place, the verb changes from "be" in English to "ir" (go) in Spanish (which actually makes much more sense than English in this case).

It's not so much that the place is mentioned but, rater, the difference between "been to" and "been in". The former is just idiomatic for "gone to"/"traveled to".

Answer 2

Hi DAvid, the thread is open again, silly system sometimes goes crazy.

Answer 3

Hi James,
I hope you get to see this , I went to bed after posting my questions and there was not a
" leave a message " button on your reply , but thanks for your help.
David

Answer 4

To add to what Heidita has told you:

If you want to say "I have been to England twice," it would be "He ido a Inglaterra dos veces." Note that when you mention the place, the verb changes from "be" in English to "ir" (go) in Spanish (which actually makes much more sense than English in this case).

Answer 5

" I have been " as in "I have been to or I have been here before: He estado aquí antes.

"I went to " as in " I went there yesterday " : Fui allí ayer.

But the rules for using either, are neither as restricted nor as clear as in English.

Many countries have a preference for using only past simple , Madrid uses preferably present perfect, Galicia, only past simple...so it can also be regional.

In Spanish you can say:

he estado allí antes/estuve allí antes.

Both sentences are correct.