Present Perfect (1) I have done
A
Joe is looking for his key. He can’t find it.
He has lost his key. (= He lost it and he still doesn’t have it.)
Have/has lost is the present perfect (simple) :
The present perfect is have/has + past participle. The past participle often ends in –ed (finished/decided, etc), but many important verbs are irregular (lost/done/been/written, etc)
B
When we use the present perfect, there is a connection with now. The action in the past has a result now ;
He told me his name, but I’ve forgotten it. (I can’t remember it now)
“Is Kim here?” “No, she has gone out” (She is out now.)
I can’t find my money. Have you seen it? (Do you know where it is now?)
We often use the present perfect to give new information or to announce a recent happening:
The road is closed. There’s been an accident.
(from the news) the police have arrested two men in connection with the robbery.
We also use the simple past (I played, I did, etc) in these situations. So you can say:
He told me his name, but I’ve forgotten it. Or but I forgot it.
Kim isn’t here. She’s gone out. Or she went out.
C
We often use the present perfect with just, already, and yet. You can also use the simple past :
Just = a short time ago :
Are you hungry? No, I have just had lunch. (Or I just had lunch.)
We use already to say that something happened sooner than expected.
Don’t forget to mail the letter. I have already mailed it. (Or I already mailed it.)
Yet = until now. It shows that the speaker is expecting something to happen.
Has it stopped raining yet?
I wrote the letter, but I havent’ mailed it yet.
D
Do not use the present perfect when you talk about a finished time (for example, last night, two years ago / yesterday, etc) Use the simple past.
It snowed last night. (not has snowed)
Where were you at 3:00? (not Where have you been?)
I started my new job two weeks ago. (not have started)
Nick didn’t go out yesterday. (not hasn’t gone)
