English grammar
Present perfect for news: has/have + past participle
Report news using the present perfect.
From the scene What has happened?
In short
Report recent news with has or have + past participle. With a finished time like yesterday, use the past simple.
Your turn
Which one goes with more than one: have?
Options: many things have disappeared · has disappeared (one thing) · Someone has robbed my stall (NOT "Have robbed")
Show answer
more than one: have → many things have disappeared
How it works
To report recent news without saying when, use has/have + past participle.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Here too? (blank) a thief broken in?
Clue: a thief = one person
Options: Did · Has · Have
Show answer
Here too? Has a thief broken in?
¿También aquí? ¿Ha entrado un ladrón?
Good to know
A crate has disappeared (one thing), many things have disappeared (more than one).
Good to know
English always needs a subject; if you don't know who did it, say someone: Someone has robbed my stall.
Good to know
With a finished time (yesterday, last night), switch to the past simple: it disappeared last night.
one thing: has has disappeared (one thing)
Tomás
Someone's robbed my stall! A crate of mangoes has disappeared.
¡Han robado en mi puesto! Ha desaparecido una caja de mangos.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Someone's robbed my stall! A crate of mangoes (blank).
Options: has disappeared · many things have disappeared · Someone has robbed my stall
Show answer
Tomás
Someone's robbed my stall! A crate of mangoes has disappeared.
¡Han robado en mi puesto! Ha desaparecido una caja de mangos.
more than one: have many things have disappeared
Elena
I don't know. But many things have disappeared.
No lo sé. Pero han desaparecido muchas cosas.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
I don't know. But (blank).
Options: many things have disappeared · has disappeared · Someone has robbed my stall
Show answer
Elena
I don't know. But many things have disappeared.
No lo sé. Pero han desaparecido muchas cosas.
unknown person: someone Someone has robbed my stall (NOT "Have robbed")
question: have + you What have you discovered?
Tomás
You? And what have you discovered?
¿Usted? ¿Y qué ha descubierto?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
You? And (blank)?
Options: what have you discovered · has disappeared · many things have disappeared
Show answer
Tomás
You? And what have you discovered?
¿Usted? ¿Y qué ha descubierto?
finished time: past simple it disappeared last night (NOT "has disappeared last night")
Common mistake
Not have or did here. A crate = one thing, singular.
Someone's robbed my stall! A crate of mangoes has disappeared.
¡Han robado en mi puesto! Ha desaparecido una caja de mangos.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| one thing: has | has disappeared (one thing) |
|---|---|
| more than one: have | many things have disappeared |
| unknown person: someone | Someone has robbed my stall (NOT "Have robbed") |
| question: have + you | What have you discovered? |
| finished time: past simple | it disappeared last night (NOT "has disappeared last night") |
More lines from the story
- TomásHere too? Has a thief broken in?¿También aquí? ¿Ha entrado un ladrón?
- TomásWe have to call the police!¡Hay que llamar a la policía!
- ElenaWhat has happened, Tomás? Tell me!¿Qué ha pasado, Tomás? ¡Habla!