Present Perfect (I have done) | North Sea English Academy

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.

have

(= I’ve, etc.)

finished

he/she/it

has

(= he’s, etc.)

lost

we/you/they

have

(= we’ve, etc.)

done

been 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.).

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 a 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?)

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

John is on holiday. He has gone to Italy. (= he is there now or on his way there)

Jody is back home now. She has been to Italy. (= she has now come back)

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

Just = a short time ago

“Are you thirsty?” “No, I’ve just had some water.”
Hello. Have you just arrived?

Already = something happened sooner than expected

“Don’t forget to pay your phone bill.” “I’ve already paid it.”
“What time is Matt 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.

Note: 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.’

Practise the present perfect

Read the situations and write sentences. Use the following verbs in the present perfect:

arrive break fall go up grow improve lose

Thomas is looking for his key. He can’t find it.
Thomas ___________________.
Liza can’t walk and her leg is in a cast.
Liza ___________________.
Last week the bus fare was €1.80. Now it is €2.
The bus fare ___________________.
Marina’s English wasn’t very good. Now it is better.
Her English ___________________.
David didn’t have a beard before. Now he has a beard.
David ___________________.
This morning I was expecting a letter. Now I have it.
The letter ___________________.
The temperature was 20 degrees. Now it is only 12.
The ___________________.

Answers

Thomas has lost his key.
Liza has broken her leg.
The bus fare has gone up.
Her English has improved.
David has grown a beard.
The letter has arrived.
The temperature has fallen.

Put in been or gone.

James is on holiday. He’s gone to Italy.
Hello! I’ve just __________ to the shops. I’ve bought lots of things.
Alice isn’t here at the moment. She’s __________ to the shop to get a newspaper.
Tom has __________ out. He’ll be back in about an hour.
‘Are you going to the bank?’ ‘No, I’ve already __________ to the bank.’

Answers

gone
been
gone
gone
been