Present Perfect (I have done)

 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.

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

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

Put in been or gone.

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

Source: Murphy, R. English Grammar in Use. 4th Ed.