Present perfect ( I have done) Part 1

UNIT 13  Present perfect (I have done) part 1

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" means that he lost it a short time ago and he still doesn't have it.

This is the present perfect (simple) tense:

I/we/they/you        have   (I've, We've, They've, You've)      }lost?
he/she/It                   has     (He's, She's, It's)                             }lost?

I  (etc.)           haven't    }lost                have  you (etc.)       lost?
he/she            hasn't      }lost                 has   he/she            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.).


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

• I've lost my key (= I don't have it now.)

• Jim has gone to Canada (=He is in Canada or on his way there now)

C.   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?

• Did you hear about Jim? He's gone to Canada.

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

• "Would you like something to eat?"         ''No, thanks. I've just had lunch''

• Hello, have you just arrived?

Use the present perfect with already to say something has happened sooner than expected.

• "Don't forget to mail the letter''      ''I've already mailed it.'' 

• ''When is Tom going to start his new job?''       ''He has already started.''

Note that you can also use the simple past (I did/I lost, etc.) in the above situations.

• I lost my key. Can you help me look for it?

• "Would you like something eat?''      "No thanks. I just had lunch''

• "Don't forget to mail the letter''                 "I already mailed it

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

• Beth is on vacation. She has gone to Italy. (= She is there now or she is on her way there.)

• Tom is back from his vacation. He has been to Italy. (= He was there, but now he has come back.)