Look! There are keys on the floor. Someone has lost their keys.
LESSON 7: PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE PART 1
A) FORM
The present perfect simple is have/has+ past participle.
I/we/they/you have / finished, lost, eaten, etc…..He/She/it has / finished, lost, eaten, etc…..
The past participle often ends in –ed. Many important verbs are irregular (check out the list)
For the negative form, NOT comes between have/has and the past participle.
For the questions, the subject and have/has are inverted.
B) USE
When we say something has happened this is new information.
No! I’ve broken my mother’s vase.
The park is closed. There has been a storm.
Police have arrested the pickpocket in the street.
When we use the present perfect simple, there is a connection with now. The action in the past has a result now.
Where’s your book? Sorry, I’ve left it at home. (= I don’t have it now.)
He told me where he lived but I’ve forgotten his address. (= I can’t remember now.)
Is Ben here? No, he has gone out to the shop. (=He is out now.)
You can use the present perfect simple with just, already and yet.
Are you thirsty? No, I’ve just had a glass of water.
Remember to buy the bread! I’ve already bought it.
Has it stopped raining yet? No, it hasn’t stopped raining yet.
The difference between gone (to) and been to:
Pamela is on holiday. She has gone to India. (=she is there now or on her way there)
Pamela is back home now. She has been to India. (= she has returned)
Exercise 1: Write sentences in the present perfect simple using one of these verbs
fall – improve – arrive – send – forget
1) Radesh’s English wasn’t very good. Now it’s better.= His English has improved.
2) The boss needed to go to the post office for the mail. Now he is back. = The boss has sent the mail.
3) It was 12°C this morning. Now it’s only 10°C. = The temperature has fallen.
4) My grandparents left their home late. Now they are here.= They have arrived.
5) Johnny wanted to buy a gift for his mother. He didn’t. Now it’s her birthday.= He has forgotten to buy the gift.
Exercise 2: Complete the sentences
1) Would you like something to eat? No, thanks. I have just had lunch.
2) Is George coming to the theatre with us? No, he has already seen the play.
3) What does Jeremy think about your idea? I don’t know. I have not told him yet.
4) What time is Barbara leaving for London? Well, she has already left.
5) What’s in the news today? No idea! I haven’t read the paper yet.
Exercise 3: Put in been or gone
1) Jim is on holiday. He’s gone to Portugal.
2) Hello! I’ve just been to the shopping centre. I’ve bought some new clothes.
3) Kurt has gone out for a cigarette. He’ll be back in 10 minutes.
4) “Are you going to the hairdresser’s?” “No, I’ve already been to the hairdresser’s.”