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Tenses
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Present perfect (pretérito perfecto)

Past action with present relevance, or an experience up to now.

Usage

Past action with present relevance, or an experience up to now.

Rules

5

1Formation: haber + participle

haber in the present (he, has, ha, hemos, habéis, han) plus the past participle.

  • He hablado con María.I have spoken with María.he + participle
  • Hemos comido en casa.We have eaten at home.

2A compound tense

It has no own endings; only haber is conjugated, the participle stays the same.

  • Has vivido aquí.You have lived here.
  • Han vivido aquí.They have lived here.participle unchanged

3Recent past

For something recent that still matters now, often with hoy, esta semana, ya.

  • Hoy he tenido un buen día.Today I have had a good day.signal word: hoy
  • Ya he hecho la tarea.I have already done the task.ya = already

4Life experiences

For experiences up to now, often with alguna vez, nunca, todavía no.

  • ¿Alguna vez has estado en España?Have you ever been to Spain?alguna vez = ever
  • Todavía no he visto la película.I haven't seen the film yet.visto = irregular

5Irregular participles

Some participles are irregular: hecho, dicho, visto, escrito, vuelto, puesto, roto, abierto.

  • He hecho un pastel.I have made a cake.hacer -> hecho
  • Ha dicho la verdad.He has told the truth.decir -> dicho

Examples

  • Habéis sido muy amables.You have been very kind.
  • Esta mañana he ido al médico.This morning I have gone to the doctor.
  • No hemos podido dormir.We have not been able to sleep.
  • ¿Has querido decir eso?Have you meant to say that?

Conjugate

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