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
beber –> bebido
caminar –> caminado
cantar –> cantado
cerrar –> cerrado
cocinar –> cocinado
comer –> comido
comprar –> comprado
conducir –> conducido
conocer –> conocido
correr –> corrido
creer –> creído
dar -> dado
dejar –> dejado
disfrutar –> disfrutado
dormir –> dormido
empezar –> empezado
encontrar –> encontrado
esperar –> esperado
hablar –> hablado
jugar –> jugado
llamar –> llamado
mirar –> mirada
pagar –> pagado
pensar –> pensado
poner –> puesto
salir –> salido
seguir –> seguido
sentir –> sentido
tomar –> tomado
trabajar –> trabajado
vender –> vendido
venir –> venido
ver -> visto
vivir –> vivido
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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