Present Perfect 1 (I Have Done) | Unit 7 | PrepMyEnglish

Unit 7 · Grammar Lesson

Unité 7 · Leçon de Grammaire

Present Perfect 1
(I Have Done) — Form, Meaning & Just / Already / Yet Présent Perfect 1
(I Have Done) — Forme, Sens & Just / Already / Yet

Master the present perfect: how to form it, when to use it, the difference between been and gone, and how to use just, already and yet

Maîtrisez le present perfect : comment le former, quand l'utiliser, la différence entre been et gone, et l'utilisation de just, already et yet

B1 4 Rules · 4 Exercises · 200-Q Quiz · PDF 4 Règles · 4 Exercices · Quiz 200 Q · PDF 🇬🇧 EN / 🇫🇷 FR

The present perfect connects the past to the present. When we say something has happened, we mean that a past action has a result or relevance right now. For example: Tom has lost his key = he lost it, and he doesn't have it now. In this unit we look at the form, the meaning, the important difference between been to and gone to, and three key adverbs: just, already and yet.

Le present perfect relie le passé au présent. Quand on dit que quelque chose has happened, on veut dire qu'une action passée a un résultat ou une pertinence maintenant. Par exemple : Tom has lost his key = il l'a perdue, et il ne l'a pas maintenant. Dans cette unité, nous examinons la forme, le sens, la différence entre been to et gone to, et trois adverbes clés : just, already et yet.

Form: have / has + Past Participle

Forme : have / has + Participe Passé

The present perfect is formed with have or has + the past participle. The past participle often ends in -ed (finished, decided), but many verbs are irregular (lost, done, written, gone, seen, etc.).

Le present perfect se forme avec have ou has + le participe passé. Le participe passé se termine souvent en -ed (finished, decided), mais de nombreux verbes sont irréguliers (lost, done, written, gone, seen, etc.).

I / we / they / you have (= I've, we've …) + past participle
he / she / it has (= he's, she's …) + past participle

I've finished. · She's lost her key. · They haven't arrived yet.

Affirmative

Affirmatif

have / has + past participle

have / has + participe passé

I've lost my umbrella.

She's finished the report.

They've gone home.

It's stopped raining.

Negative & Question

Négatif & Question

haven't / hasn't · Have / Has …?

I haven't seen the film yet.

She hasn't called back.

Have you met him before?

Has it stopped raining?

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Irregular past participles: Participes passés irréguliers : go → gone / been · lose → lost · do → done · write → written · see → seen · break → broken · grow → grown · cut → cut · forget → forgotten. Always check the irregular verb list! go → gone / been · lose → lost · do → done · write → written · see → seen · break → broken · grow → grown · cut → cut · forget → forgotten. Consultez toujours la liste des verbes irréguliers !

Meaning: Past Action with a Present Result

Sens : Action Passée avec un Résultat Présent

When we use the present perfect, there is always a connection with now. The action happened in the past, but its result or importance is felt at the moment of speaking. We often use it to announce new information.

Quand on utilise le present perfect, il y a toujours un lien avec maintenant. L'action s'est produite dans le passé, mais son résultat ou son importance est ressenti au moment où l'on parle. On l'utilise souvent pour annoncer de nouvelles informations.

Ow! I've cut my finger.

→ I cut it just now — the result (it's bleeding) is happening now.

→ Je me suis coupé à l'instant — le résultat (ça saigne) se produit maintenant.

Tom has lost his key. He can't get in.

→ He lost it at some point — the result now is he doesn't have it.

→ Il l'a perdue à un moment — le résultat maintenant est qu'il ne l'a pas.

The road is closed. There's been an accident.

→ New information — an accident happened and the road is still closed now.

→ Nouvelle information — un accident s'est produit et la route est encore fermée maintenant.

He told me his name, but I've forgotten it.

→ I forgot it at some point — the result now is I can't remember it.

→ Je l'ai oublié à un moment — le résultat maintenant est que je ne m'en souviens pas.

I can't find my bag. Have you seen it?

→ Asking about a past event with present relevance: do you know where it is now?

→ Question sur un événement passé avec pertinence présente : savez-vous où il est maintenant ?

Been to vs Gone to — An Important Difference

Been to vs Gone to — Une Différence Importante

He has gone to Italy = he went there and is still there (or on his way). He is not here now. • She has been to Italy = she went there and has come back. She is here now.

He has gone to Italy = il y est allé et il y est encore (ou en chemin). Il n'est pas ici maintenant. • She has been to Italy = elle y est allée et est revenue. Elle est ici maintenant.

gone to → still there / on the way — not back yet
been to → went and came back — here now

Gone to — still away

Gone to — encore parti

not here — went and hasn't returned

pas là — parti et pas encore rentré

James is on holiday. He's gone to Italy.

'Where's Sarah?' 'She's gone to the shops.'

Tom has gone out. He'll be back soon.

Been to — came back

Been to — de retour

here now — went and returned

ici maintenant — parti et revenu

Amy is back home. She's been to Italy.

'Hello! I've just been to the shops.'

Have you ever been to Japan?

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Quick test: Test rapide : Is the person still away? → gone to. Is the person back? → been to. "He's gone to the shops" ✓ · "He's been to the shops" ✓ — both possible, different meaning! La personne est-elle encore partie ? → gone to. Est-elle revenue ? → been to.

Just, Already and Yet

Just, Already et Yet

Just = a short time ago (affirmative). Already = sooner than expected (affirmative). Yet = until now — used in questions and negatives to show we expect something to happen.

Just = il y a peu de temps (affirmatif). Already = plus tôt que prévu (affirmatif). Yet = jusqu'à maintenant — utilisé dans les questions et phrases négatives pour montrer qu'on s'attend à ce que quelque chose se produise.

just (affirmative) → 'Are you hungry?' 'No, I've just had lunch.'
already (affirmative) → 'Don't forget to pay.' 'I've already paid it.'
yet (questions & negatives) → Has it stopped yet? / I haven't sent it yet.

Hello. Have you just arrived?

→ Just = a very short time ago.

→ Just = il y a très peu de temps.

'What time is Mark leaving?' 'He's already left.'

→ Already = sooner than the speaker expected.

→ Already = plus tôt que prévu par l'interlocuteur.

I've written the email, but I haven't sent it yet.

→ Yet (negative) = it hasn't happened up to now, but we expect it will.

→ Yet (négatif) = ce n'est pas encore arrivé, mais on s'y attend.

Has it stopped raining yet?

→ Yet (question) = asking if something expected has happened up to now.

→ Yet (question) = demande si quelque chose d'attendu s'est produit jusqu'à maintenant.

EX 1

Exercise 1 — Complete with the present perfect (choose the correct verb)

Exercice 1 — Complétez avec le present perfect (choisissez le verbe correct)

Use: break · disappear · go up · grow · improve · lose · shrink · stop

Utilisez : break · disappear · go up · grow · improve · lose · shrink · stop

Tom is looking for his key. He can't find it. Tom .

Maria's English wasn't very good. Now it is better. Her English .

My bag was here, but it isn't here any more. My bag .

Lisa can't walk and her leg is in plaster. Lisa .

Last week the bus fare was £1.80. Now it is £2. The bus fare .

Dan didn't have a beard before. Now he has a beard. Dan .

It was raining ten minutes ago. It isn't raining now. It .

I washed my sweater, and now it's too small for me. My sweater .

Answers:Réponses : 1. has lost his key · 2. has improved · 3. has disappeared · 4. has broken her leg · 5. has gone up · 6. has grown a beard · 7. has stopped · 8. has shrunk

EX 2

Exercise 2 — Been or gone?

Exercice 2 — Been ou gone ?

Put in been or gone.

Mettez been ou gone.

My parents are on holiday. They've to Italy.

Hello! I've just to the shops. I've bought lots of things.

Tom has just out. He'll be back in about an hour.

Alice isn't here at the moment. I don't know where she's .

You're very late. Where have you ?

Answers:Réponses : 1. gone · 2. been · 3. gone · 4. gone · 5. been

EX 3

Exercise 3 — Complete using the present perfect

Exercice 3 — Complétez avec le present perfect

Use the prompts in brackets.

Utilisez les indications entre parenthèses.

Sally is still here. out.

I can't find my bag. anywhere?

I can't log on to the website. my password.

I sent Joe an email this morning, but .

Is the meeting still going on, or ?

. It's colder now.

the form. Could you sign it now, please?

Are your friends still here, or home?

Paul doesn't know what he's going to do. .

10.

'Do you know where Julia is?' 'Yes, .'

11.

'When is David going away?' ' .'

12.

? — Not yet. It starts next week.

Answers:Réponses : 1. She hasn't gone · 2. Have you seen it · 3. I've forgotten · 4. he hasn't replied · 5. has it finished · 6. The weather has changed · 7. You haven't signed · 8. have they gone · 9. He hasn't decided yet · 10. I've just seen her · 11. He's already gone · 12. Has your course started yet

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Exercise 4 — Write sentences with just, already or yet

Exercice 4 — Écrivez des phrases avec just, already ou yet

Read each situation and write a sentence using the verb in brackets.

Lisez chaque situation et écrivez une phrase avec le verbe entre parenthèses.

After lunch you go to see a friend. She says 'Would you like something to eat?' You say: No thank you. .

Joe goes out. Five minutes later the phone rings. You say: I'm afraid .

The waiter starts to take your plate away. You say: Wait a minute! .

Your friend says 'Shall I phone to reserve a table?' You say: No, .

Lisa is looking for a place to live. You ask: ?

A friend asks where you're going on holiday. You say: .

Someone asks 'Is Laura still out?' You say: No, .

Answers:Réponses : 1. I've just had lunch · 2. he's just gone out · 3. I haven't finished yet · 4. I've already done it · 5. Have you found somewhere yet · 6. I haven't decided yet · 7. she's just come back

Frequently Asked Questions — Present Perfect 1

Questions fréquentes — Present Perfect 1

How do I form the present perfect?Comment forme-t-on le present perfect ?

Use have or has + the past participle. For I/we/you/they → have (I've, we've…). For he/she/it → has (he's, she's…). Regular past participles end in -ed; many verbs are irregular (go → gone, lose → lost, see → seen, write → written).

Utilisez have ou has + le participe passé. Pour I/we/you/they → have. Pour he/she/it → has. Les participes passés réguliers se terminent en -ed ; beaucoup de verbes sont irréguliers.

Why do we use the present perfect instead of the past simple?Pourquoi utilise-t-on le present perfect plutôt que le passé simple ?

Use the present perfect when the past action has a connection with now — a result, relevance, or importance at the moment of speaking. Example: I've lost my keys = I lost them and I don't have them now. If you refer to a specific finished time, use the past simple: I lost my keys yesterday.

Utilisez le present perfect quand l'action passée a un lien avec maintenant — un résultat, une pertinence ou une importance au moment où l'on parle. Si vous faites référence à un moment précis et terminé, utilisez le passé simple.

What is the difference between "been to" and "gone to"?Quelle est la différence entre "been to" et "gone to" ?

Gone to = the person left and is still away (not back yet): James has gone to Italy — he's there now. Been to = the person went and has returned: Amy has been to Italy — she's back home now.

Gone to = la personne est partie et est encore absente. Been to = la personne est allée et est revenue.

When do I use just, already and yet?Quand utilise-t-on just, already et yet ?

Just = a very short time ago, used in affirmative sentences: I've just had lunch. Already = sooner than expected, in affirmative sentences: She's already left. Yet = up to now (we expect something to happen), used in questions and negatives: Has it stopped yet? / I haven't finished yet.

Just = il y a très peu de temps (affirmatif). Already = plus tôt que prévu (affirmatif). Yet = jusqu'à maintenant — dans les questions et phrases négatives.

⚙️ Quiz SettingsParamètres du Quiz

Number of questionsNombre de questions

DifficultyDifficulté

Show explanationsExplications

All topics Form Meaning / Result Now Been vs Gone Just / Already / Yet Spot the Error Mixed

Present Perfect Quiz

Quiz — Present Perfect

20 questions

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out ofsur 20 questionsquestions

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Correct

Correctes

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Wrong

Incorrectes

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Skipped

Non répondues

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Present Perfect 1(I Have Done) — Form, Meaning & Just / Already / Yet Présent Perfect 1(I Have Done) — Forme, Sens & Just / Already / Yet