Present Perfect in Spanish: A2 Grammar Guide
◄ Back to A2 Grammar Hub | Practice with Our Present Perfect Quiz ►
Key Takeaways
- Master the conjugation of the Present Perfect tense (haber + past participle)
- Understand when to use this tense for recent past and life experiences
- Learn how to form regular and irregular past participles
- Practice talking about what you’ve done today, this week, or in your life
- Differentiate between Present Perfect and other past tenses
Talk About Recent Events and Life Experiences
The Present Perfect (Pretérito Perfecto Compuesto) is your go-to tense for talking about actions that happened in the recent past or that have relevance to the present moment. It’s the equivalent of “I have eaten” or “She has traveled” in English. This tense is perfect for sharing news, talking about your day, or discussing life experiences.
How to Form the Present Perfect (Cómo Formarlo)
The Present Perfect is a compound tense formed with:
Haber (conjugated) + Past Participle
| Subject | Haber Conjugation | Example with “comer” |
|---|---|---|
| Yo | he | He comido (I have eaten) |
| Tú | has | Has comido (You have eaten) |
| Él/Ella/Usted | ha | Ha comido (He/She has eaten) |
| Nosotros/Nosotras | hemos | Hemos comido (We have eaten) |
| Vosotros/Vosotras | habéis | Habéis comido (You all have eaten) |
| Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes | han | Han comido (They have eaten) |
Forming Past Participles (Participios Pasados)
Regular Formations:
| Verb Ending | Change To | Example | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|---|
| -AR | -ado | hablar → | hablado |
| -ER | -ido | comer → | comido |
| -IR | -ido | vivir → | vivido |
💡 Grammar Tip: Remember the pattern: -AR → -ado and -ER/-IR → -ido. This works for the majority of Spanish verbs!
Common Irregular Past Participles
| Infinitive | Past Participle | English | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abrir | abierto | opened | He abierto la ventana. (I have opened the window.) |
| Decir | dicho | said | Has dicho la verdad. (You have said the truth.) |
| Escribir | escrito | written | Ha escrito una carta. (He has written a letter.) |
| Hacer | hecho | done/made | Hemos hecho la tarea. (We have done the homework.) |
| Ir | ido | gone | Han ido al cine. (They have gone to the movies.) |
| Morir | muerto | died | Ha muerto la planta. (The plant has died.) |
| Poner | puesto | put | He puesto la mesa. (I have set the table.) |
| Romper | roto | broken | Has roto el vaso. (You have broken the glass.) |
| Ver | visto | seen | Hemos visto esa película. (We have seen that movie.) |
| Volver | vuelto | returned | Han vuelto a casa. (They have returned home.) |
🔍 Grammar Focus: Many irregular past participles end in -to (hecho, dicho, puesto) or -cho (hecho). There are about 15 common irregulars – focus on learning the ones you use most frequently first.
When to Use the Present Perfect (Cuándo Usarlo)
Use this tense for:
- ✅ Recent Past: Actions that happened today, this week, recently
- ✅ Life Experiences: Things you have or haven’t done in your life
- ✅ Past Actions with Present Relevance: Actions that affect the present
- ✅ Unspecified Time: When you don’t say exactly when something happened
Time Expressions that Trigger Present Perfect
| English | Spanish | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Today | hoy | Hoy he trabajado mucho. (Today I have worked a lot.) |
| This morning | esta mañana | Esta mañana he desayunado tarde. (This morning I have breakfast late.) |
| This week | esta semana | Esta semana he estudiado mucho. (This week I have studied a lot.) |
| This year | este año | Este año he viajado a tres países. (This year I have traveled to three countries.) |
| Recently | recientemente / últimamente | Recientemente he empezado a hacer ejercicio. (Recently I have started to exercise.) |
| Never | nunca | Nunca he visitado Asia. (I have never visited Asia.) |
| Ever | alguna vez | ¿Has estado alguna vez en México? (Have you ever been to Mexico?) |
| Already | ya | Ya he terminado el libro. (I have already finished the book.) |
| Not yet | todavía no | Todavía no he visto esa película. (I haven’t seen that movie yet.) |
Putting It All Together: Daily Conversations
Conversation 1: Catching Up with a Friend
Ana: ¡Hola! ¿Qué has hecho hoy?
Carlos: He ido al gimnasio esta mañana y he terminado mi proyecto. ¿Y tú?
Ana: He trabajado desde casa. Todavía no he salido.
Carlos: ¿Has comido ya?
Ana: No, todavía no he comido. ¿Has preparado algo?
Translation:
Ana: Hi! What have you done today?
Carlos: I have gone to the gym this morning and I have finished my project. And you?
Ana: I have worked from home. I haven’t gone out yet.
Carlos: Have you eaten already?
Ana: No, I haven’t eaten yet. Have you prepared something?
Conversation 2: Job Interview
Entrevistador: ¿Ha trabajado usted antes en este sector?
Candidato: Sí, he trabajado en empresas similares por cinco años.
Entrevistador: ¿Ha viajado mucho por trabajo?
Candidato: Sí, he visitado varios países de Latinoamérica.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using “tener” instead of “haber”: “He comido” not “Tengo comido.”
- Forgetting participle agreement: Participles don’t change with gender/number in perfect tenses.
- Mixing with simple past: Use Present Perfect for recent/unspecified time, Simple Past for specific past times.
- Wrong irregular participles: “He hecho” not “He hacido.”
- Misplacing pronouns: “Lo he visto” not “He lo visto.”
Quick Reference Chart
| Element | Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Formation | haber + past participle | he comido |
| Regular -AR | -ado | hablado |
| Regular -ER/-IR | -ido | comido, vivido |
| Common Irregulars | -to, -cho endings | hecho, dicho, puesto |
| Time Expressions | hoy, esta semana, nunca | Hoy he trabajado |
| Pronoun Placement | before “haber” | lo he visto |
Practice Exercise: Conjugate to Present Perfect
Conjugate these verbs in Present Perfect:
- Yo (terminar) el trabajo.
- Ellos (ir) al supermercado.
- ¿Tú (ver) a María hoy?
- Nosotros (hacer) la cena.
Answers:
- he terminado
- han ido
- has visto
- hemos hecho
💻 Practice Conjugations Live! Use our Spanish Verb Conjugation Tool to practice the Present Perfect with any verb.
Ready to Practice?
Think you’ve mastered the Present Perfect? Test your knowledge of recent past and life experiences!
Take Our Present Perfect Quiz ►
