007 : Present perfect 1 (I have done)

   A   

Study this example situation:

 

Tom is looking for his key. He can't find it.
He has lost his key.

 

He has lost his key = He lost it recently, and he still doesn't have it.

 

 

 

Have/has lost is the present perfect simple:

 

I/we/they/you	have (= I've etc.)	finished lost done been etc.
he/she/it	has (= he's etc.)

 

The present perfect simple is have/has + past participle.

 

The past participle often ends in -ed (finished/decided etc.), but many important verbs are irregular (lost/done/written etc.).

 

For a list of irregular verbs, see Appendix 1.

 

 

   B   

When we say that 'something has happened', this is usually new information:

• Ow! I've cut my finger.
• The road is closed. There's been (there has been) an accident.
• (from the news) Police have arrested two men in connection with the robbery.

When we use the present perfect, there is a connection with now. The action in the past has a result now:

• 'Where's your key?'  'I don't know. I've lost it.'  (=I don't have it now)
• He told me his name, but I've forgotten it.  (= I can't remember it now)
• 'Is Sally here?' 'No, she's gone out.'  (= she is out now)
• I can't find my bag. Have you seen it? (= Do you know where it is now?)

 

 

   C   

Note the difference between gone (to) and been (to):

• James is on holiday. He has gone to Italy. (= he is there now or on his way there)
• Jane is back home now. She has been to Italy. (= she has now come back)

 

 

   D   

You can use the present perfect with just, already and yet.

 

 

Just = a short time ago:

• 'Are you hungry?' 'No, I've just had lunch.'
• Hello. Have you just arrived?

We use already to say that something happened sooner than expected:

• 'Don't forget to pay your electricity bill.' 'I've already paid it.'
• 'What time is Mark leaving?' 'He's already left.'

Yet = until now. Yet shows that the speaker is expecting something to happen. Use yet only in questions and negative sentences:

• Has it stopped raining yet?
• I've written the email, but I haven't sent it yet.

 

 

   E   

You can also use the past simple (did, went, had etc.) in the examples on this page. So you can say:

• 'Is Sally here?'  'No, she went out.'  or  'No, she's gone out.'
• 'Are you hungry?'  'No, I just had lunch.'  or  'No, I've just had lunch.'

 

 

 

 

 (American English -> Appendix 7) 

 

AMERICAN

 

The present perfect or past simple can be used for new or recent happenings.

The past simple is more common:

• I lost my key. Did you see it?
  (or  I've lost my key. Have you seen it?)
• Sally isn't here. She went out.  (or  Sally isn't here. She's gone out.)

 

The present perfect or past simple can be used with just, already and yet.
The past simple is more common:

• I'm not hungry. I just had lunch.
  (or  I've just had lunch.)
• A: What time is Mark leaving?
  B: He already left.  (or  He's already left.)
• Did you finish your work yet?  (or  Have you finished your work yet?)