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1 The Idea
A Past Action With a Result Now
📘 Level 2 — Present Perfect — Lesson 2

Sometimes a past action creates a result you can see now. Look at this sentence:

She has broken her leg.
→ The action happened in the past: she broke her leg.
→ The result is here now: she cannot walk.

With the Present Perfect, the result now is the main point. You are not telling a story about the past. You are explaining the situation now.

Ask yourself one question: Can I see, feel, or hear the result now? If yes, use the Present Perfect.

2 Two Parts
The Action and the Result

With this use of the Present Perfect, there are always two parts:

First: the past action. Something happened recently.
Second: the present result. The situation now is different because of it.

I can't get in — I have lost my keys.
→ Past action: I lost them
→ Present result: I have no keys and cannot open the door now

Look at the floor — someone has spread mud through the house!
→ Past action: someone walked in with muddy shoes
→ Present result: the floor is dirty — I can see it right now
3 The Present Result
The Result Comes First

People often say the result first. Then they use the Present Perfect to explain it. You describe what you see now, and then you give the cause:

  • The road is closed — there has been an accident. (I see the closed road. Then I give the cause.)
  • He looks pale — he has received some bad news. (I see his face. Then I give the cause.)
  • The kitchen smells wonderful — she has cooked a big meal. (I smell it. Then I give the cause.)
  • The car won't start — the battery has died. (I see the problem. Then I give the cause.)
4 Signal Words
Words and Phrases to Look For

These phrases often show that this use of the Present Perfect is coming:

Look! / Look at... I can see / smell / hear... He/she looks... The [noun] is / isn't... I can't / can now... Something has happened What has happened?
5 Common Mistakes
Watch Out For These
❌ Mistake 1 — Using the Past Simple when the result now is the main point
✗ She broke her leg — she can't walk.
✗ I lost my keys — I can't get in.
✗ He left the company — his office is empty.
✓ She has broken her leg — she can't walk.
✓ I have lost my keys — I can't get in.
✓ He has left the company — his office is empty.
These sentences are about the situation now: she can't walk, I can't get in. Use the Present Perfect. The Past Simple only tells a past event. It does not show the result now.
❌ Mistake 2 — Using the Present Simple or the Present Continuous to explain the cause
✗ "I can't get in." — "Why?" — "I lose my keys." or "I am losing my keys."
✓ "I can't get in." — "Why?" — "I have lost my keys."
When someone asks why, you give the cause. Use the Present Perfect. Do not use the Present Simple or the Present Continuous.
❌ Mistake 3 — Wrong have/has, or a wrong past participle
✗ The dog have eaten my sandwich.
✗ The baby has fall asleep.
✗ They have buyed a new car.
✓ The dog has eaten my sandwich.
✓ The baby has fallen asleep.
✓ They have bought a new car.
The Present Perfect has two parts: have/has and the past participle. Use has with he, she, it, and singular nouns. Use have with I, you, we, they, and plural nouns. Learn the irregular participles: fall → fallen, buy → bought.
6 Practice
Try It Yourself
Exercise A — Reports the Cause, or Just the Result?

Click "Present Perfect Fits" if the sentence explains a result you can see, or "Past Simple Fits" if the sentence tells events in order, with no result now.

  • 1
    Look — someone has opened the window.
    ✓ Correct — "Look" signals a result you can see, with no time given.
  • 2
    He opened the window, and then he sat down.
    ✓ Correct — "and then" tells events in order. There is no result now, so the Past Simple fits.
  • 3
    She's out of breath — she has run all the way here.
    ✓ Correct — her breathlessness right now is the result you can see.
  • 4
    The lights won't turn on — a fuse has blown.
    ✓ Correct — the dark room is the result you can see, and no time is given.
  • 5
    The band played three songs, and then it left the stage.
    ✓ Correct — "and then" tells events in order. There is no result now, so the Past Simple fits.
  • 6
    I finished the report, and then I went home.
    ✓ Correct — "and then" tells events in order. There is no result now, so the Past Simple fits.
  • 7
    Her hands are covered in flour — she has made a cake.
    ✓ Correct — the flour on her hands is the result you can see right now.
  • 8
    We sent the contract, and then we called the client.
    ✓ Correct — "and then" tells events in order. There is no result now, so the Past Simple fits.
Exercise B — Present Perfect Affirmative

Type the correct Present Perfect form of the verb given.

  • 1
    Look — it raining. (stop)
  • 2
    The window is broken — someone a ball through it. (throw)
  • 3
    The dog is soaking wet — it in the pond. (fall)
  • 4
    His hand is bleeding — he himself. (cut)
  • 5
    The shop is closed — they to a new address. (move)
  • 6
    The floor is shiny — someone it. (wash)
  • 7
    The mirror is broken — someone it with a ball. (hit)
  • 8
    Her hands are shaking — she too much coffee. (drink)
Exercise C — Correct or Incorrect?

Click your answer for each sentence.

  • 1
    The road is closed — there has been an accident.
    ✓ Correct — the closure is a result you can see, explained with the Present Perfect.
  • 2
    "Why is your shirt wet?" — "I fall in the pool."
    ✓ Correct — this is wrong. Explaining a current result needs the Present Perfect: "I've fallen in the pool."
  • 3
    The dog have eaten my sandwich.
    ✓ Correct — this is wrong. "Have" does not match "the dog." Use "has": "The dog has eaten my sandwich."
  • 4
    He looks pale — he has received some bad news.
    ✓ Correct — his pale face is the result, correctly explained with the Present Perfect.
  • 5
    The printer isn't working — what has happened to it?
    ✓ Correct — a natural reaction to a present situation you can see.
  • 6
    They have buyed a new car.
    ✓ Correct — this is wrong. Buy is irregular. The participle is "bought": "They have bought a new car."
  • 7
    The car won't start — the battery has died.
    ✓ Correct — the dead battery is the result you can see or feel, correctly explained.
  • 8
    Look at the mess — the cat have knocked over the vase.
    ✓ Correct — this is wrong. "The cat" needs "has," not "have": "the cat has knocked over the vase."
Exercise D — Negatives

Type the whole negative verb phrase. Use the contracted negative (haven't/hasn't).

  • 1
    The lights are still on — he the office yet. (leave)
  • 2
    The grass is still long — they it yet. (cut)
  • 3
    The kitchen still smells of paint — we a window. (open)
  • 4
    The room is still messy — she it yet. (clean)
  • 5
    The engine is still cold — I the car. (start)
  • 6
    His desk is empty — he his things. (pack)
  • 7
    The phone still rings — they it. (hear)
  • 8
    The form is still blank — you it. (finish)
Exercise E — Questions

Type the whole opening question phrase.

  • 1
    The door won't open — ? (it / break)
  • 2
    His coat and keys are gone — home? (he / go)
  • 3
    The floor is wet — it? (they / wash)
  • 4
    Her voice sounds strange — a cold? (she / catch)
  • 5
    The fence looks new — it? (you / fix)
  • 6
    The shelf is empty — out? (they / sell)
  • 7
    His shirt is torn — ? (he / fall)
  • 8
    The music has stopped — ? (the show / finish)
7 Choose the Right Sentence
Apply What You Know

Read each question carefully. Select the sentence that matches the description.

Question 1 of 8
Select the sentence that correctly explains a present result you can see.
Question 2 of 8
Select the sentence with a mistake.
Question 3 of 8
Select the correctly formed sentence.
Question 4 of 8
Select the natural way to explain the cause of a current situation.
Question 5 of 8
Select the correctly formed negative sentence.
Question 6 of 8
Select the sentence with the wrong auxiliary verb.
Question 7 of 8
Select the sentence that correctly reports a result you can see.
Question 8 of 8
Select the sentence that gives the cause with the wrong verb form.
8 Summary
Past Actions with a Result in the Present A past action can create a result you can see now. Use the Present Perfect when that result is the main point.
  • The key question: can you see, feel, or hear the result now? If yes, use the Present Perfect.
  • Two parts: the past action, and the present result.
  • People often say the result first. Then they use the Present Perfect to give the cause.
  • A story told in order, with no result now, uses the Past Simple.
  • To explain a cause, do not use the Present Simple or the Present Continuous.
← Previous lesson Present Perfect: For Experiences Next Present Perfect: With an Incomplete Period of Time →