When they are learning English, some French people confuse the meaning and usage of these two verbs. gone is the Past Participle form of the verb to go.

been is the Past Participle form of the verb to be.

e.g. John has gone to work in West Africa.

Margot has been to France six times this year.

22.1 Usage:

A: Gone describes an activity/action that has begun/taken place and is continuing.

e.g. My teacher has gone to Provence to meet her friends.

B: Been describes an activity/action that has finished.

e.g. Mary's parents have been thinking about retirement for years and now they have retired.

22.2 Structure:

Take the Simple Present Tense of the verb to have + past Participle of either to go or to be:

e.g. The aeroplane has gone to New York.

My brother has been studying History at university for three years.

22.3 Structure: Negatives:

In negative statements, not is placed after the auxiliary verb to have.

e.g. statement: Michael has gone to the office.

negative: Michael has not gone to the office.

/Michael hasn't gone to the office.

statement: Mary has been to London for the day.

negative: Mary has not been to London for the day.

/Mary hasn't been to London for the day.

22.4 Structure: Questions:

In questions, reverse the positions of the subject and auxiliary verb to have.

S AUX

statement: Peter has gone to New York to look for a job.

AUX S

question: Has Peter gone to New York to look for a job?

S AUX

statement: The President has been to Geneva..

AUX S

question: Why has the President been to Geneva?