Spanish conjugation explanation

Word order in compound tenses

<p>In Spanish compound tenses (such as the

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/114/" target="_blank">Present Perfect</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/haber/" title="Click to see conjugations for haber" target="_blank">haber</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/24/" target="_blank">past participle</a>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Pronoun Placement</div>

<p>Object pronouns (direct, indirect, and reflexive) must always be placed <strong>before</strong> the conjugated form of <span style="font-style: italic;">haber</span>. You cannot place them between <span style="font-style: italic;">haber</span> and the participle.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="red_emphasis">Wrong:</span> He <strong>lo</strong> terminado.</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Right:</span> <span class="brown_emphasis">Lo</span> <strong>he terminado</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I have finished it.</span>)</div>

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<p>This applies to reflexive verbs as well:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ellos <span class="brown_emphasis">se</span> <strong>han ido</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">They have left.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Note that the pronoun <span style="font-style: italic;">se</span> comes before <span style="font-style: italic;">han</span>, never inside the verb phrase.</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Adverb Placement</div>

<p>Adverbs such as <span style="font-style: italic;">ya</span> (already), <span style="font-style: italic;">siempre</span> (always), or <span style="font-style: italic;">nunca</span> (never) are frequently the cause of mistakes for English speakers. In English, it is correct to say "I have <em>always</em> wanted," but in Spanish, the adverb usually precedes the entire verbal unit.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="red_emphasis">Wrong:</span> He <strong>siempre</strong> querido viajar.</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Right:</span> <span class="brown_emphasis">Siempre</span> <strong>he querido</strong> viajar. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I have always wanted to travel.</span>)</div>

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<p>Similarly, to express "already":</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="brown_emphasis">Ya</span> <strong>he comido</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I have already eaten.</span>)</div>

<p>For detailed conjugations of the auxiliary used in these structures, see

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/esp/haber/" title="Click to see conjugations for haber" target="_blank">haber</a>