Foundation grammar · Unit 15 · A2

I have done (present perfect 1)

Present perfect

Use have/has + past participle for an action in the past that has a result now.

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A A past action, a result now

His car is dirty. → He is washing his car. → He has washed his car.

The washing is finished, and the result is here now: the car is clean now.

They are at home. → They are leaving. → They have gone out.

The leaving is finished, and the result is here now: they are not at home now. Anybody who rings the doorbell will discover this the hard way.

  • He's washed his car. (the car is clean now)
  • They've gone out. (they are not at home now)

B The form: have/has + past participle

has washed / have gone etc. is the present perfect (have + past participle).

positive and negative question
I / we / you / they have ('ve) / have not (haven't) finished have I / we / you / they finished?
he / she / it has ('s) / has not (hasn't) finished has he / she / it finished?

Regular verbs: the past participle ends in -ed, the same as the past simple. wash → I have washed. open → she has opened. stop → it has stopped.

Irregular verbs: the past participle is sometimes the same as the past simple and sometimes different (see unit 24).

infinitive past simple past participle
the same buy bought bought
the same make made made
different break broke broken
different eat ate eaten
different see saw seen
different go went gone
  • I've opened the window.
  • She hasn't made the beds.
  • Have they eaten?
  • Has it broken?

C Using the present perfect

Use the present perfect for an action in the past with a result now.

  • I've lost my keys. (I can't find them now)
  • "Where's Amir?" "He's gone to the shop." (he is at the shop now)
  • We've bought a new sofa. (we have a new sofa now)
  • It's Mum's birthday on Friday and I haven't bought her a card.
  • "Lucy isn't at her desk." "Really? Where has she gone?"
  • Can I wash this mug? Have you finished with it?

Exercises

15.1 Each scene shows what happened before and what is true now. What has happened? Use a phrase from the list.

wash his caropen the windowfall asleepstop snowinghave a haircutfall off the table

  1. Before: a man is standing next to a very muddy car. Now: the car is shining and he is smiling.

    He's washed his car.

    He's washed his car.

  2. Before: a woman is standing next to a closed window. Now: the window is wide open.

    She .

  3. Before: a man is in an armchair, watching the telly. Now: his eyes are closed and he is snoring.

    He .

  4. Before: heavy snow is coming down. Now: the sky is clear and the sun is out.

    It .

  5. Before: a girl has long hair down to her waist. Now: her hair is very short.

    She .

  6. Before: a vase is standing on a table. Now: the vase is in pieces on the floor.

    The vase .

15.2 Complete the sentences with a verb from the list, in the present perfect. Each verb is used once.

buydecideeatfinishforgetgogoinviteloseseenot/seetell

  1. "Do you still need the laptop?" "No, I've finished with it. It's all yours."

    "Do you still need the laptop?" "No, I've finished with it. It's all yours."

  2. I a new coat. Do you like it?

  3. "Is Sam in?" "No, he to the gym."

  4. I'm trying to find Joel. you him?

  5. Oh no! I my wallet.

  6. "Does your mum know about the new job?" "Yes, I her."

  7. There's no cake left. Somebody it.

  8. I'm looking for the cat. Where it ?

  9. I know that song, but I the words.

  10. Joe is having a barbecue on Sunday. He all his neighbours.

  11. Are you buying the blue one or the red one? you ?

  12. "Where's the remote?" "I don't know. I it."

See also