Spanish Present Perfect

Present Perfect: Form

Today we are going to learn the Spanish Present Perfect (Pretérito Perfecto Compuesto).

It is similar to the Present Perfect in English, although the two languages do not always use it in exactly the same way.

I have eaten. → He comido.

PERSON+ HABER+ PAST PARTICIPLE

Person	Haber	Hablar	Comer	Vivir
yo	he	hablado	comido	vivido
tú	has	hablado	comido	vivido
él / ella / usted	ha	hablado	comido	vivido
nosotros/as	hemos	hablado	comido	vivido
vosotros/as	habéis	hablado	comido	vivido
ellos / ellas / ustedes	han	hablado	comido	vivido

-ar → -ado

hablar → hablado

-er / -ir → -ido

comer → comido · vivir → vivido

Present Perfect · Use 1

Experiences

We use the Present Perfect to talk about experiences in our lives when we do not say exactly when they happened.

He estado en España tres veces.

I have been to Spain three times.

Nunca he estado en México.

I have never been to Mexico.

¿Has probado alguna vez la paella?

Have you ever tried paella?

Todavía no he visitado Barcelona.

I haven't visited Barcelona yet.

alguna vez · ever

nunca · never

ya · already

todavía no · not yet

Experience → no specific past time

Present Perfect · Use 2

A Time Period That Includes Now

Esta semana he tenido muchas clases.

I have had many classes this week.

The action happened in the past, but this week is not finished yet.

Esta semana

the week continues →

Hoy he hablado con mi madre.

I have spoken to my mother today.

Esta semana hemos tenido tres clases.

We have had three classes this week.

Este mes he gastado mucho dinero.

I have spent a lot of money this month.

Este año he viajado a Japón dos veces.

I have travelled to Japan twice this year.

The time period is still OPEN.

Present Perfect · Use 3

A Past Event With a Result Now

We can use the Present Perfect when a past event is important because of its connection with the present.

He perdido las llaves.

I have lost my keys.

Result now: I do not have the keys.

Ana ha salido.

Ana has gone out.

Result now: Ana is not here.

He terminado el trabajo.

I have finished the work.

¿Qué ha pasado?

What has happened?

Important: do not think “recent = Present Perfect” and “long ago = Simple Past”. What matters is how the speaker connects the event to the present.

Compare

Present Perfect vs Simple Past

HE COMIDO

Hoy he comido en la cafetería.

I have eaten at the cafeteria today.

Today includes now. The time period is still open.

COMÍ

Ayer comí en la cafetería.

I ate at the cafeteria yesterday.

Yesterday is finished. The event belongs to a completed past time period.

Esta semana he tenido muchas clases.

I have had many classes this week.

La semana pasada tuve muchas clases.

I had many classes last week.

Present Perfect

hoy
esta semana
este mes
este año

Simple Past

ayer
la semana pasada
el mes pasado
el año pasado

Simple Past

Telling a Story in the Past

When we tell a sequence of completed events in a finished past time, the Simple Past is very common.

Ayer me levanté a las 7.

→

Desayuné.

→

Fui a la universidad.

→

Volví a casa.

Finished story

Ayer fui al cine y después cené con unos amigos.

Yesterday I went to the cinema and then had dinner with some friends.

Current time period

Esta semana he ido al cine dos veces.

I have been to the cinema twice this week.

Finished past story → Simple Past

Regional Variation

Spain and Latin America

Spanish-speaking regions do not always choose the two forms in exactly the same way.

MUCH OF MAINLAND SPAIN

The Present Perfect is very common with time periods that include the present.

Hoy he comido con María.

I have eaten with María today.

Esta semana he trabajado mucho.

I have worked a lot this week.

MANY LATIN AMERICAN VARIETIES

The Simple Past is often used more widely, even with expressions such as hoy.

Hoy comí con María.

I ate with María today.

Esta semana trabajé mucho.

I worked a lot this week.

Both patterns are part of real Spanish. There is variation inside Spain and inside Latin America as well. For this course, we will mainly use the common Peninsular contrast: open/current time → Present Perfect and finished past time → Simple Past, while recognizing other regional patterns.

Summary

Which Form Should I Choose?

Life experience, with no exact past time?

Present Perfect

He estado en Perú.

Time period still includes now?

Present Perfect

Esta semana he estudiado mucho.

Finished past time or completed story?

Simple Past

Ayer estudié mucho.

Present Perfect

he comido

experience · open time period · present relevance

Simple Past

comí

finished past time · sequence of completed past events

Regional usage varies. The examples in this lesson use the common Peninsular pattern as the main classroom model.