I am learning the honorific and humble forms, and am confused by the precises
situations in which you use them. I understand that when speaking directly to
an individual of higher status, one would use the honorific forms when
discussing your conversation partner, and one cold also use the humble forms
when discussing oneself. However, what form to use when talking about a
superior with an equal? For example asking your classmate Yuki whether your
professor has been to England, which would be more appropriate?

ユキさん、先生は英国へ行きのがありましたか？

ユキさん、先生は英国へいらっしゃいのがありましたか？

Thanks!
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2016-09-07T08:02:29.493
39028
2016-09-07T08:50:19.643
11049
question
usage keigo sonkeigo
Using けいご to talk about a third party
First, you're using [the ことがある
construction](http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/grammar/genericnouns)
incorrectly. Don't try to replace this こと with の. And the preceding verb must
be in the ta-form (not the verb-stem) because you're talking about his past
experience.

As a general rule, select honorific/humble verbs based on who did the action,
not on whom you're talking to. In your example, the verb 行く is done by 先生, so
you can replace this 行く with some honorific expression:

>   * ユキさん、先生は英国へいらっしゃったことがありますか。
>   * ユキさん、先生は英国へ行かれたことがありますか。
>

The second line above is using [れる to form an honorific
expression](http://japanese-
revision.tumblr.com/post/46179095323/v%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B%E3%82%89%E3%82%8C%E3%82%8B).

In reality, when students are casually talking about their teachers, many
people don't use keigo at all. To me, "先生は英国へ行ったことがある？" would look more
realistic in casual conversations. But if you're a beginner, start from the
basic, polite, masu-form-based expressions which are always safe.
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2016-09-07T08:50:19.643
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2016-09-07T08:50:19.643
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answer