Present Result — English Grammar Exercises
I did vs I have done — finally get it right
Present Perfect for Present Result
The result-now use of the present perfect is sometimes called the 'current relevance' function. A past action is presented not as a historical event but as the cause of the current situation. Research from the COBUILD grammar corpus identifies this as the most common use of the present perfect in spoken British English, especially with just, already, and yet.
How It Works
When you want to emphasise that a past action matters right now — because it produced a visible state, or because the result is still in effect — use have/has + past participle.
The taxi has arrived. Let's go! (it is here at this moment)
Someone has stolen my bicycle! It's not here anymore. (the bicycle is still gone)
She hasn't done her homework yet. She should start now. (still incomplete)
Signal Words for Present Result
Just = only moments ago, result is immediate.
Already = done before expected, placed between auxiliary and participle.
Yet = up to this moment, used in questions (end position) and negatives.
Still (negative) = has not happened yet but should have.
I have already seen the film. (before you suggested it)
Have you finished yet? / I haven't finished yet.
I still haven't reached fluency. (expected but not achieved)
Common Mistakes
✗ He has just left five minutes ago. → ✓ He left five minutes ago.
✗ Oh no! I left my phone at home. → ✓ Oh no! I have left my phone at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I use present perfect instead of past simple?
Use present perfect (have/has + past participle) when the connection to the present matters: life experience ('Have you ever tried sushi?'), a result relevant now ('I've lost my keys — can you help?'), or an ongoing situation with since/for ('She has lived here since 2015'). Use past simple when you specify a finished time: 'She moved here in 2015', 'I saw him yesterday', 'Did you call last night?'
What is the difference between 'since' and 'for' in the present perfect?
'For' goes with a duration — a length of time: 'for three years', 'for ages', 'for two months'. 'Since' goes with a starting point in time: 'since 2019', 'since Monday', 'since I was a child'. Both appear with present perfect when the situation is still true now: 'I've worked here for three years' (still work there); 'I've worked here since 2019' (same meaning, different framing).
Which words tell me to use present perfect — just, already, yet, ever?
'Just' (= moments ago), 'already' (= earlier than expected), 'yet' (= up to now, used in questions and negatives), and 'ever/never' (= at any time in your life) are all strong signals for present perfect. Contrast these with past simple signals: 'yesterday', 'last week', 'in 2020', 'two hours ago', 'when I was a child' — any expression naming a finished period forces past simple.
What is 'have been to' vs 'have gone to'?
'Have been to' means visited and returned: 'I have been to Paris three times' (I'm not there now). 'Have gone to' means went and has not returned: 'She has gone to Paris' (she is still there). This distinction is one of the highest-frequency errors in learner corpora at B1–B2 level.