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I have been in Europe for 2 years

Does this sentence mean I was in Europe for 2 years?

What's the difference between these two sentences?

I have been in Europe

Can this mean I am still in in Europe?

Ben Kovitz
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1 Answers1

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This is a subtle one caused by the context.

"I have been in Europe for two years" would normally be understood to mean that you travelled to Europe two years ago and have remained there.

Note that very similar wording could be used to mean that you were in Europe during some specific event, but are not necessarily still there. Like, "I have been in Europe for two national elections." I went there during one, then I went there during another. But I might well have left in between and/or after the second.

"I have been in Europe" could mean that you visited Europe at some time in the past. "What continents have you visited?" "I have been in Europe. And I have been in Africa." In that case it does not imply that you are still there. It can also mean that you have been there for an unspecified period of time and are still there. "Why didn't you attend the meeting last Thursday?" "I couldn't make it. I have been in Europe."

Jay
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  • Your 'exceptions' in para 4 ought to use 'to Europe' not 'in Europe', except the last, which would be far less confusing & far more accurate to say 'I was in... ' – DoneWithThis. May 18 '15 at 16:12
  • @Tetsujin: No, Jay is right. In context, it's valid, and illustrative. – FumbleFingers May 18 '15 at 17:51
  • @FumbleFingers - it sounds wrong to me, except for emphasis… 'You were never in Europe!' 'Yes, I have been in Europe'. Push it further, 'I went to Europe', never 'I went in Europe'. It feels equivalent to me - though, I always have to admit, I'm no grammarian. – DoneWithThis. May 18 '15 at 17:59
  • I certainly wouldn't say, "I went in Europe". But "I have been to Europe" and "I have been in Europe" seem basically equivalent to me. – Jay May 18 '15 at 19:08
  • Jay, I think there's a detectable nuance of difference - you'd usually say ...been to* Europe* because the fact of travelling to, visiting Europe is likely to be your focus (I did* that). But when explaining why didn't attend a recent meeting, what matters is that you weren't around - you were in Europe* (I was* there* for some/all of the relevant timeframe). – FumbleFingers May 18 '15 at 19:23