Present Perfect
Pretérito Perfecto: The Present Perfect Tense in Spanish
Table of Contents
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will understand the formation of the Pretrito Perfecto tense using the verb haber and past participles, as well as identify the key time expressions that indicate the use of Pretrito Perfecto. You will also practice distinguishing between actions with a connection to the present, recent past actions, and life experiences without specifying when to use the Pretrito Perfecto tense over the Pretrito Indefinido.
Introduction
The Pretérito Perfecto (Present Perfect) is a Spanish past tense used to describe actions that happened recently or have relevance to the present. It is commonly used in Spain but may be replaced by Pretérito Indefinido in some Latin American countries.
In English, it corresponds to the Present Perfect:
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| He comido | I have eaten | ||
| Hemos viajado a Madrid | We have traveled to Madrid |
Formation
The Pretérito Perfecto is formed using:
-
The present tense of the verb haber (to have)
-
The past participle of the main verb
Conjugation of haber
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | he |
| Tú | has |
| Él/Ella/Usted | ha |
| Nosotros/as | hemos |
| Vosotros/as | habéis |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | han |
Past Participle Formation
The past participle is formed by removing the verb's ending (-ar, -er, -ir) and adding:
| Verb Ending | Past Participle Ending | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -ar | -ado | hablar → hablado (spoken) |
| -er | -ido | comer → comido (eaten) |
| -ir | -ido | vivir → vivido (lived) |
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| He estudiado mucho esta semana. | I have studied hard this week. | ||
| ¿Has visto la nueva película? | Have you seen the new movie? | ||
| Han trabajado en este proyecto toda la mañana. | They have been working on this project all morning. |
When to Use
✅ 1. Actions with a connection to the present
If an action happened in the past but still affects the present, we use Pretérito Perfecto.
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hoy he bebido mucho café. | I drank a lot of coffee today. | "Hoy" (today) connects the past action to the present. | |
| He perdido mis llaves, no puedo entrar en casa. | I lost my keys, I can't get into the house. | The loss affects the speaker now. |
✅ 2. Recent past actions
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esta mañana he hablado con mi jefe. | This morning I spoke to my boss. | ||
| ¿Has comido algo? | Have you eaten anything? |
✅ 3. Life experiences (without specifying when)
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| He viajado a Japón. | I have traveled to Japan. | ||
| Mi abuela nunca ha volado en avión. | My grandmother has never flown in an airplane. |
Key Time Expressions
These expressions often indicate the need for Pretérito Perfecto:
| Time Expression | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Hoy | today | Hoy he trabajado mucho. |
| Esta mañana/tarde/noche | this morning/afternoon/evening | Esta mañana he visto a Ana. |
| Esta semana/este mes/este año | this week/month/year | Este año hemos aprendido mucho español. |
| Alguna vez | ever | ¿Has probado la comida mexicana alguna vez? |
| Nunca | never | Nunca he estado en México. |
| Ya | already | Ya hemos terminado la tarea. |
| Todavía no | not yet | Todavía no he llamado a mi madre. |
| Recientemente | recently | Recientemente he empezado un nuevo curso. |
vs. Pretérito Indefinido
A common mistake is using Pretérito Perfecto instead of Pretérito Indefinido (simple past). Here's how they differ:
- Pretérito Perfecto (recent past, still relevant)
- Pretérito Indefinido (completed, distant past)
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| He visitado Barcelona este año. | I visited Barcelona this year. | Pretérito Perfecto | |
| Visité Barcelona el año pasado. | I visited Barcelona last year. | Pretérito Indefinido | |
| ¿Has visto a Juan hoy? | Have you seen Juan today? | Pretérito Perfecto | |
| ¿Viste a Juan ayer? | Did you see Juan yesterday? | Pretérito Indefinido | |
| No he terminado mi tarea todavía. | I haven't finished my homework yet. | Pretérito Perfecto | |
| No terminé mi tarea anoche. | I did not finish my homework last night. | Pretérito Indefinido |
Key difference:
• If the event has a clear time reference in the past (like "ayer" or "el año pasado"), we use Pretérito Indefinido.
• If the event is recent and still relevant to the present, we use Pretérito Perfecto.
Summary
The Pretérito Perfecto is used for recent past actions, life experiences, and actions still affecting the present. It's formed using haber (he, has, ha, hemos, habéis, han) plus the past participle. Key time expressions include hoy, esta semana, ya, todavía no, alguna vez, and nunca. A common mistake to avoid is using Pretérito Perfecto with completed past actions that have a specific time reference—in these cases, use Pretérito Indefinido instead.