Unit 13 Present Perfect (I have done) 1

1. 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' means that he lost it a short time ago and he still hasn't got it.
This is the present perfect (simple) tense:
I/we/they have (=I've etc.) lost
he/she has (=he's etc.) lost

I (etc.) haven't lost. He/she hasn't lost

Have you (etc)lost Has you (etc)lost

We form the present perfect with have/has + the past participle. The past participle often ends in -ed (opened, decided) but many important verbs are irregular (lost, written, done etc.). See this.

2. When we use the present perfect there is a connection with the present:

• I've lost my key. (= I haven't got it now.)
• Jim has gone to Canada. (= He is in Canada or on his way there now.)
• Oh dear, I've forgotten her name. (= I can't remember it now.)
• Have you washed your hair? (=Is it clean now?)

3. We often use the present perfect to give new information or to announce a recent happening.

• I've lost my key. Can you help me look for it?
• Do you know about Jim? He's gone to Canada.
• Ow! I've burnt myself.

You can use the present perfect with just (= a short time ago):

• 'Would you like something to it?' 'No, thank. I've just had lunch.
• Hello, have you just arrived?

You can use the present perfect with already to say that something has happened sooner expected:

• 'Don't forget to post the letter, will you?' 'I've already posted it.'
• 'When is Tom going to start his new job?' 'He has already started."

4. Study the difference between gone to and been to:

• Ann is on holiday. She has gone to Italy. (=She is there now or she is on her way there.)
• Tom is back in England now. He has been to Italy. (=He was there but now he has come back.)

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