THE PRESENT PERFECT
A SPANISH PAST TENSE FOR BEGINNERS
from Happy Hour Spanish
THE PRESENT PERFECT
In English, one way we can talk about the past is using the verb
'to have' in the present tense with the past participle of the
next verb:
I have been
I have seen
I have eaten
This tense is called the present perfect .
The same tense exists in Spanish:
He comido = I have eaten
Ha perdido = She(he) has lost
Has vivido = You have lived
There is more than one past tense in Spanish, but we
recommend you start with this one for a few reasons:
1. It’s the easiest to learn since there’s less to memorize
2. It’s very commonly used (more often than in English)
3. Even if you use it incorrectly, you’ll still be understood
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To form the present perfect:
the present tense of the verb haber + the past participle
HABER The conjugation of haber is relatively simple.
have Memorize it, because it will come up again,
(yo) he and again, and again ;)
(tú) has
(el/ella) ha Note: Haber means 'to have', but is almost
(nosotros) hemos exclusively used as an auxiliary verb (a verb
(vosotros) habéis used in forming tenses). Use tener, which also
(ellos/ellas) han means to have, for possessive situations (Ex: I
have two cats / tengo dos gatos
THE PAST PARTICIPLE
AR -> ADO There is only a single conjugation for a verb
cantar -> cantado when it's in the past participle. That's what
hablar -> hablado makes this tense easier than others - you only
need to memorize the conjugations of haber, and
a single conjugation for all other verbs!
ER/IR -> IDO
conocer -> conocido In general, the rule is:
vivir -> vivido ar verbs change their ending to ado
both er and ir verbs change their ending to ido.
comer -> He comido = I have eaten
perder -> Ha perdido sus llaves = She(he) has lost her keys
vivir -> ¿Has vivido en España? = ¿Have you lived in Spain?
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MORE PAST PARTICPLES
Although there is a general rule for past participles where ar
verbs end in ado and er/ir verbs end in ido , there are also
irregulars that have their own unique conjugation. They're
shown in red below.
ser -> sido ir -> ido
estar -> estado necesitar -> necesitado
querer -> querido saber -> sabido
tener -> tenido decir -> dicho
hacer - hecho ver -> visto
poder - podido dar -> dado
abrir –> abierto escribir –> escrito
bailar –> bailado esperar –> esperado
beber –> bebido hablar –> hablado
caminar –> caminado jugar –> jugado
cantar –> cantado llamar –> llamado
cerrar –> cerrado mirar –> mirada
cocinar –> cocinado pagar –> pagado
comer –> comido pensar –> pensado
comprar –> comprado poner –> puesto
conducir –> conducido salir –> salido
conocer –> conocido seguir –> seguido
correr –> corrido sentir –> sentido
creer –> creído tomar –> tomado
dar -> dado trabajar –> trabajado
dejar –> dejado vender –> vendido
disfrutar –> disfrutado venir –> venido
dormir –> dormido ver -> visto
empezar –> empezado vivir –> vivido
encontrar –> encontrado volver –> vuelto
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EXERCISES
How do you say the following words/phrases in Spanish?
1. I have slept ___________________
2. I have eaten ___________________
3. He has returned ____________________
4. They have not met his mother ___________________________
5. I have written a letter __________________________________
6. Have you called the office? ______________________________
7. They have bought a new house __________________________
8. I have put the money on the table ________________________
9. She has lost her keys ____________________________________
10. I haven't paid the bill yet _______________________________
11. I have said everything _________________________________
12. I have lived in Spain for 2 years _________________________
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RESPUESTAS (ANSWERS)
1. (yo) he dormido = I have slept
2. (yo) he comido = I have eaten
3. (él) ha vuelto = he has returned
4. (ellos) no han conocido a su madre = They have met his mother
5. (yo) he escrito una carta = I have written a letter
6. ¿(tú) has llamado a la oficina = Have you called the office?
7. (ellos) han comprado una casa nueva = they have bought a
new house
8. (yo) he puesto el dinero en la mesa = I have put the money on the
table
9. (ella) ha perdido sus llaves = she has lost her keys
10. todavia (yo) no he pagado la cuenta = I haven't paid the bill yet
11. (yo) he dicho todo = I have said everything
12. (yo) he vivido en españa dos años = I have lived in Spain 2 years
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Common mistakes when talking in the past in Spanish
https://www.happyhourspanish.com/dont-make-mistakes-when-talking-about-the-
past-the-use-of-desde-hace-desde-hace-and-llevar/
Five rules about Spanish word order
https://www.happyhourspanish.com/spanish-word-order/
The reflexive verbs you didn't learn in Spanish class
https://www.happyhourspanish.com/spanish-reflexive-verbs-didnt-learn/
Gustar and other similar verbs you should know
https://www.happyhourspanish.com/gustar-similar-verbs-know/
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