Present Perfect

Usage

The Pretérito Perfecto tense in Spanish is used to talk about actions or events that have occurred in the recent past and have some connection to the present. It's equivalent to the English present perfect tense. Here's how to understand and use it:

1. Actions completed in the recent past: The Pretérito Perfecto is used for actions that have been completed recently, often with time expressions like "hoy" (today), "esta semana" (this week), "este mes" (this month).

   He visto esa película hoy. (I have seen that movie today.)

2. Life experiences: It is used to talk about life experiences or actions that have (or haven't) occurred at some point in someone's life, often with "alguna vez" (ever), "nunca" (never), "ya" (already), "todavía no" (not yet).

   ¿ Has viajado a Japón alguna vez? (Have you ever traveled to Japan?)

3. Actions that have an impact on the present: It's also used for actions in the past that have a result or relevance in the present.

   Hemos perdido las llaves y no podemos entrar a casa. (We have lost the keys and we can't enter the house.)

4. To express a change or a new development: When something has changed or is newly developed, this tense is often used.

   Ha llovido mucho y las calles están inundadas. (It has rained a lot and the streets are flooded.)

Conjugation:

To conjugate regular verbs in the Pretérito Perfecto, you will use the present tense of the auxiliary verb haber and the past participle of the main verb.

• Haber in the present tense: he, has, ha, hemos, habéis, han
• Past participle for -ar verbs: -ado (e.g., hablar -> hablado)
• Past participle for -er/-ir verbs: -ido (e.g., comer -> comido, vivir -> vivido)

Hablar (to speak):

• Yo he hablado
• Tú has hablado
• Él/Ella/Usted ha hablado
• Nosotros/Nosotras hemos hablado
• Vosotros/Vosotras habéis hablado
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes han hablado

Comer (to eat):

• Yo he comido
• Tú has comido
• Él/Ella/Usted ha comido
• Nosotros/Nosotras hemos comido
• Vosotros/Vosotras habéis comido
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes han comido

Vivir (to live):

• Yo he vivido
• Tú has vivido
• Él/Ella/Usted ha vivido
• Nosotros/Nosotras hemos vivido
• Vosotros/Vosotras habéis vivido
• Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes han vivido

Examples:

He hablado con mi hermano. (I have spoken with my brother.)
Has comido sushi alguna vez? (Have you ever eaten sushi?)