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Will omitting "to" change the meaning of these sentences?

  1. Luffy, name one mall you've been to.

  2. In the places you've been to, did you see any dragon balls?

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  • It wouldn't change the meaning of the sentences, but the version without to is simply not considered grammatical by all speakers. There are speakers who so use sentences like "I liked every mall I've been". I don't think it's wisely considered standard English, though.
    – oerkelens
    May 15, 2016 at 11:35

2 Answers 2

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It would change the meaning of your first example. When you end a sentence with the verb been, you are asking if they themselves have existed as a mall. What is one mall you've existed as? It doesn't make any sense.

However, in the second sentence, it's more of a slang usage. You have actually BEEN in those places, so it's describing that.

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Luffy, name one mall you have been to.

You go to a place.: Name one city you have been to. Name one village you have been to.
Without "to" the sentence would be incorrect.

In the places you've been to, did you see any dragon balls?

You could say "Did you see any Dragon balls in the places you have been?" without any change in meaning.
It is clear you are referring to a place; therefore you can omit "to".

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