To ask about a life experience, start with Have you ever and add a word like been or seen: Have you ever been to Japan?
Asking about experiences
Have you ever — Have you ever been to Japan?
Try it: Amina: ___ been to Japan? Hiroshi: Yes, I have. It was wonderful. Choose the phrase that asks about a life experience. (Have you ever / Last year, I / I have never) Answer: Have you ever — Have you ever asks about experiences in someone's life, which fits the question. Last year, I and I have never both tell about your own past, so neither one asks a question.
Talking about your experiences
To say where you have gone, use I have been to before a place. To say you have not done something, use I have never. To say when in the past, use Last year, I before a past verb.
I have been to — I have been to Japan.
I have never — I have never visited Asia.
Last year, I — Last year, I went to Japan.
Try it: Sofia: Have you ever visited Asia? Diego: No, ___ visited Asia. I'd love to go. Diego has no experience of Asia. Which fits? (I have never / I have been to / Have you ever) Answer: I have never — I have never says you have not done something, which fits Diego's No. I have been to says you have gone somewhere and Have you ever asks a question, so neither one fits a No answer.
Verbs for the big moments
You already know went and decided, and you already make the past form with -ed. Four more verbs come up when people talk about their lives: graduated = finished school or university, moved = went to live somewhere new, won = came first, lost = could not find something. Note won and lost do not take -ed. For a birth, English says was born, never "borned".
graduated — Lani graduated from Haffenville University in 2022.
moved — Yasmin moved to Downtown Haffenville in 2019.
won — Farid's team won the championship last year.
lost — Matilda lost her wallet at Mosh Market.
was born — Mei was born in Senfarrow Brook in 1998.
went — Last year, Liam went to Ghafwick for vacation.
decided — Two years ago, Diego decided to start his own business.
Try it: Lani finished university in 2022. She ___ from Haffenville University. (graduated / moved / won) Answer: graduated — Graduated is the word for finishing school or university, which is what Lani did. Moved is about going to live somewhere new, and won is about coming first in a competition, so neither one fits finishing a degree.
Try it: Matilda cannot find her wallet. She ___ it at Mosh Market. (lost / won / moved) Answer: lost — Lost means you cannot find something, which fits the missing wallet. Won means you came first and moved means you went somewhere new, so neither one is about a missing thing. Watch the form: it is lost, not "losed".