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.

Regular verbs
TerminaciónConjugaciónEjemplo
-arhaber + adoHablar (to speak)
Yo he hablado
has hablado
Él ha hablado
Nosotros hemos hablado
Vosotros habéis hablado
Ellos han hablado
-erhaber + idoComer (to eat)
Yo he comido
has comido
Él ha comido
Nosotros hemos comido
Vosotros habéis comido
Ellos han comido
-irhaber + idoVivir (to live)
Yo he vivido
has vivido
Él ha vivido
Nosotros hemos vivido
Vosotros habéis vivido
Ellos han vivido
Irregular verbs
VerboConjugación
Ser (to be)Yo he sido
has sido
Él/Ella/Usted ha sido
Nosotros hemos sido
Vosotros habéis sido
Ellos/as/Ustedes han sido
Ir (to go)Yo he ido
has ido
Él/Ella/Usted ha ido
Nosotros hemos ido
Vosotros habéis ido
Ellos/as/Ustedes han ido
Tener (to have)Yo he tenido
has tenido
Él/Ella/Usted ha tenido
Nosotros hemos tenido
Vosotros habéis tenido
Ellos/as/Ustedes han tenido
Estar (to be)Yo he estado
has estado
Él/Ella/Usted ha estado
Nosotros hemos estado
Vosotros habéis estado
Ellos/as/Ustedes han estado
Hacer (to do/make)Yo he hecho
has hecho
Él/Ella/Usted ha hecho
Nosotros hemos hecho
Vosotros habéis hecho
Ellos/as/Ustedes han hecho
Decir (to say)Yo he dicho
has dicho
Él/Ella/Usted ha dicho
Nosotros hemos dicho
Vosotros habéis dicho
Ellos/as/Ustedes han dicho

Examples:

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

Exercises