The phrase “have been to do” is often misunderstood by English learners. In fact, it's not a standard grammatical construction on its own. What people usually mean is one of two correct forms:
- “have been to [place]” – meaning you visited somewhere.
- “have been doing [something]” – the present perfect continuous tense.
1. “Have Been to [Place]”
This structure indicates that someone has visited a place at least once in their life.
I have been to Paris twice.
She has been to Japan before.
Note: This does not include an infinitive verb like “to do.”
2. “Have Been Doing” (Present Perfect Continuous)
This tense describes an action that started in the past and continues into the present.
I have been studying English for three years.
They have been working on this project all week.
Again, there’s no “to do” after “been” — the verb is in the -ing form.
Common Mistake
❌ “I have been to do my homework.” → This is incorrect.
✅ Correct alternatives:
- “I have done my homework.” (present perfect simple)
- “I have been doing my homework.” (present perfect continuous)
Summary
There is no standard English construction “have been to do.” If you’re trying to express completion or ongoing action, use:
have/has + past participle(e.g., have done)have/has been + verb-ing(e.g., have been doing)have/has been to + place(e.g., have been to London)