12.2: The present perfect
- Page ID
- 415696
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)The Present Perfect
The present perfect tense is used to describe actions that have been completed in the recent past. In English we use the helping verbs have or has. In Spanish we use a conjugated form of the helping verb haber in the present tense. The verb haber is conjugated to determine who has completed the action.
The present tense conjugations for haber are
he hemos
has habéis
ha han
The present perfect is a compound tense because it has two parts: the helping verb haber and a past participle.
The past participle is used to describe which action has occurred. The past participle is formed by removing the final two letters of an infinitive and adding ADO or IDO based on the infinitive ending. Since the past participle is part of a verb tense, it will always end in an O. For example
bailar bailado danced
cantar cantar sung
estudiar estudiado studied
beber bebido drank
comprender comprendido understood
recibir recibido received
vivir vivido lived
Some verbs do have an irregular past participle. These verbs are
abrir abierto opened
cubrir cubierto covered
decir dicho said
describir descrito described
descubrir descubierto discovered
escribir escrito written
hacer hecho done
morir muerto died
poner puesto put, placed
resolver resuelto resolved
romper roto broken
ver visto seen
volver vuelto returned
Read through these irregular past participles. Saying these irregular forms can help you remember them.
Most of these irregular past participles are easier to say than if you had to form them like regular past participles. Read through them one more time out loud.
Here are some examples of the present perfect with the two parts.
I have studied. We have studied. He estudiado. Hemos estudiado.
You (fam., s.) have danced. You (fam., pl.) have danced. Has bailado. Habéis bailado.
He/she/you (form., s.) have written. They/you (form., pl.) have written. Ha escrito. Han escrito.
Remember that the H is silent but must be included in the written form.
Verbs that end in a vowel and then an -ER or -IR require a written accent mark. For example
caer caído fallen
creer creído believed
leer leído read
oír oído heard
reír reído laughed
sonreír sonreído smiled
traer traído brought
This accent mark is necessary to make sure that the I is pronounced and does not blend into the strong vowel in front of it. Say each of these past participles and listen for the I.
With practice, the present perfect becomes easier to form and a simple way to explain recent events. Some people think the present perfect is easier to form and use than the preterite and/or imperfect. What do you think?
Prácticas.
A. Conjugate the following verbs in the present perfect.
cantar aprender escribir
B. Conjugate each of the verbs in the present perfect in the indicated form.
1. bailar (la profesora)
2. comer (yo)
3. cantar (tú)
4. beber (la chica)
5. explicar (la profesora)
6. tocar (tú)
7. jugar (Uds.)
8. correr (Ud.)
9. caminar (nosotros)
10. comprender (ustedes)
11. cocinar (tú)
12. patinar (la atleta)
13. entender (yo)
14. alegrarse (mis amigos)
15. ir (la familia)
16. morir (la planta)
17. prepararse (el chico)
18. romper (tú)
19. volver (usted)
20. escribir (yo)
C. Translate each sentence into Spanish.
1. She has studied.
2. He has washed the dishes.
3. I have run.
4. They have danced.
5. We have played soccer.
6. You (form., plural) have used the computer.
7. I have cleaned the house.
8. They have done their homework.
9. We have gone.
10. She has said.
11. You (fam.) have written.
12. They have eaten.
13. The dog has slept.
14. My friends have arrived.
15. We have prepared ourselves.
D. La música. The songs He Llorado by Juan Magán uses the present perfect to explain a man’s sadness about losing love. Listen to the song. Then, listen to is again write the verbs that you hear in the present perfect.
E. What is the present perfect? Why is it called a compound tense? When is it used? Pick five verbs and write five sentences in the present perfect.