Do not use the present perfect (I have done) when you talk about a finished time (for example, yesterday / ten minutes ago / in 1999 / when I was a child). Use the past tense:
“It was very cold yesterday.” (not has been)
“Paul and Lucy arrived ten minutes ago.” (not have arrived)
“Did you eat a lot of sweets when you were a child? (not have you eaten)
Use the past to ask When … ? or What time … ?
“When did your friends arrive?” (not have … arrived)
“What time did you finish work?”
Study this example situation:
Tom is looking for his key. He can’t find it. He has lost his key. (present perfect) This means that he doesn’t have his key now.
-Ten Minutes Later-
Now Tom has found his key. He has it now.
Has he lost his key? No, he has found it.
Did he lose his key? Yes, he did.
He lost his key (past simple) but now he has found it. (present perfect)
Study this example conversation:
DAVE: Have you travelled a lot, Jane?
JANE: Yes, I‘ve been to lots of places.
DAVE: Really? Have you ever been to China?
JANE: Yes, I‘ve been to China twice.
DAVE: What about India?
JANE: No, I haven’t been to India.
When we talk about a period of time that continues form the past until now, we use the present perfect (have been / have travelled etc.) Here, Dave and Jane are talking about the places Jane has visited in her life (which is a period that continues until now). Read the rest of this entry »
Study this example situation:
Tom is looking for his key. He can’t find it. He has lost his key. (He has lost his key = He lost it recently, and he still doesn’t have it.)
Have/has lost is the present perfect simple:
I/we/they/you have ( = I‘ve etc.) lost
he/she/it has ( = he‘s etc.) lost
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