0

What does "been to see" in this excerpt from a listening test mean?

Tutor: Hello Sam, come in and sit down ... Sam: Thanks. Tutor: You’re here to discuss your company-based IT project aren’t you? Sam: Yes ... I’ve been to see the Manager and he’s given me a lot of ideas about projects that the company would find useful. But I wanted to ask your opinion about them before I choose one.

Improve this question
1
  • 1
    "have been" means "went"; this comes up a lot here, such as this question about "have been". "to go to see" is a very common English structure too, with "go" a catenative verb followed by another verb to give the sense of travelling for the purpose of doing something.
    – Stuart F
    Commented Feb 1 at 15:17

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
3

In the sentence, the phrase "been to see" indicates that the speaker has visited or met with the manager. It implies a physical presence in the manager's office or location for the purpose of discussing something. The use of "been to see" suggests an active engagement in a face-to-face meeting or discussion with the manager.

Improve this answer
2

It is an idiom meaning, "I have seen the manager," or, "I went to see the manager," or, "I saw the manager."

Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    It implies that you went, probably to his office, for the purpose of talking to him.
    – Kate Bunting
    Commented Feb 1 at 8:40

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .