Gramática · Nivel A2
El pretérito perfecto
The present perfect (“I have done”). Talk about your experiences and what you have done so far today, this week or in your life.
Paso 1
Aprende · Learn
By the end of this lesson…
- I can talk about experiences I have and haven’t had.
- I can say what I have done today or this week.
- I can ask “Have you ever…?”
When to use it
- Life experiences¿Alguna vez has probado el mole?Have you ever tried mole?
- Time periods that aren’t overEste año he viajado mucho.This year I have traveled a lot.
- With ya and todavía noYa he comido. Todavía no he visto la película.I’ve already eaten. I haven’t seen the movie yet.
- Recent past (very common in Spain)Hoy me he levantado temprano.Today I got up early.
Signal words: hoy, esta semana, este año, alguna vez, nunca, ya, todavía no, últimamente
How to form it
Regular participles: -ar → -ado (hablado) · -er/-ir → -ido (comido, vivido)
| Person | haber | + participle |
|---|---|---|
| yo | he | hablado |
| tú | has | comido |
| él/ella/usted | ha | vivido |
| nosotros/as | hemos | hecho |
| vosotros/as | habéis | visto |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | han | dicho |
Keys to remember
- Formula: haber (he, has, ha…) + past participle (-ado / -ido).
- The participle never changes: ella ha hablado, ellos han hablado.
- Keep them together: nothing goes between haber and the participle. Pronouns go before: Lo he visto.
- Irregular participles: abierto, dicho, escrito, hecho, muerto, puesto, roto, visto, vuelto.
- Regional note: in Spain this tense is common for things that happened today. In much of Latin America, speakers often use the preterite instead (Hoy me levanté temprano). Both are correct.
Irregular participles
| Infinitive | Participle |
|---|---|
| abrir | abierto |
| decir | dicho |
| escribir | escrito |
| hacer | hecho |
| poner | puesto |
| ver | visto |
| volver | vuelto |
| leer | leído |
| traer | traído |
Paso 2
Practica · Conjugation drill
10 quick questions. Type the form, press Enter, and get instant feedback. You get two tries per question.
Review these:
Paso 3
En contexto · Real-world practice
Type the correct form of the verb in parentheses. Accent buttons are under each sentence. After each answer, you’ll see why it’s correct. Sentences come from everyday life across the Spanish-speaking world.
Paso 4 · Apply it
Habla y escribe: Mi lista de experiencias
Speak or write · 8 sentences
Share 4 things you have done in your life and 4 things you haven’t done yet but want to do.
Steps
- Start with En mi vida he…
- Add 3 more experiences with details (where, with whom).
- Switch to Todavía no he… for 4 dreams.
- Ask your listener one question: ¿Y tú? ¿Alguna vez has…?
0 words
Self-check
See a model answer
En mi vida he visitado once países. He visto las pirámides de Teotihuacán y he nadado en el mar Caribe. También he escrito un pequeño libro de cuentos para mis sobrinos. Nunca he tenido miedo de probar comidas nuevas: he comido chapulines en Oaxaca. Todavía no he ido a la Patagonia, y todavía no he aprendido a bailar tango. Tampoco he visto la aurora austral. ¿Y tú? ¿Alguna vez has viajado solo?
In my life I have visited eleven countries. I have seen the pyramids of Teotihuacán and I have swum in the Caribbean Sea. I have also written a small book of stories for my nieces and nephews. I have never been afraid to try new foods: I have eaten grasshoppers in Oaxaca. I haven’t gone to Patagonia yet, and I haven’t learned to dance tango yet. I haven’t seen the southern lights either. And you? Have you ever traveled alone?
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