A2
The present perfect
How the Spanish present perfect is formed, its irregular participles, and how its use differs between Spain and Latin America.
Haber in the present, then the participle. The participle never changes — no agreement of any kind.
| he hablado | I have spoken |
| has hablado | |
| ha hablado | |
| hemos hablado | |
| habéis hablado | |
| han hablado |
Participles: -ar → -ado, -er and -ir → -ido.
He comido demasiado.
I-have eaten too-much
I’ve eaten too much.
Nothing comes between haber and the participle
He no comido.
No he comido.
No goes before haber, and pronouns go there too — no lo he visto. The two halves of the verb are never separated.
The irregular participles
| hacer → hecho | |
| ver → visto | |
| escribir → escrito | |
| decir → dicho | |
| poner → puesto | |
| volver → vuelto | |
| abrir → abierto | |
| romper → roto |
¿Has visto la película?
you-have seen the film
Have you seen the film?
Spain and Latin America differ
In Spain the present perfect covers anything within a period still going on — today, this week, this year — where Latin America generally uses the preterite.
Hoy he trabajado mucho.
today I-have worked much
I’ve worked a lot today.
In Mexico or Argentina that would more naturally be hoy trabajé mucho. Neither is wrong; they are different regional norms, and it is worth knowing which one you are hearing.
The time words that go with it
Ya, todavía no, nunca, alguna vez, esta mañana, este año.
Nunca he estado en Perú.
never I-have been in Peru
I’ve never been to Peru.