Spanish conjugation explanation

Preterite vs. Present Perfect

<p>In Spanish, choosing between the

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/18/" target="_blank">Preterite</a>

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

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Unfinished time: Present Perfect</div>

<p>The <strong>Present Perfect</strong> is formed with the auxiliary verb

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

<p>Common time markers include: <span class="brown_emphasis" style="font-style: italic;">hoy</span> (today), <span class="brown_emphasis" style="font-style: italic;">esta mañana</span> (this morning), <span class="brown_emphasis" style="font-style: italic;">esta semana</span> (this week), <span class="brown_emphasis" style="font-style: italic;">este mes</span> (this month), <span class="brown_emphasis" style="font-style: italic;">este año</span> (this year).</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="brown_emphasis">Hoy</span> <span class="green_emphasis">he comido</span> ensalada. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Today I have eaten salad / I ate salad today.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">(The day is not over yet.)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="brown_emphasis">Este año</span> <span class="green_emphasis">hemos viajado</span> a México. (<span style="font-style: italic;">This year we have traveled to Mexico.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">(The year is not over yet.)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Finished time: Preterite</div>

<p>The <strong>Preterite</strong> (or Simple Past) is used for actions performed in a time frame that is <strong>already completed</strong> and disconnected from the present.</p>

<p>Common time markers include: <span class="brown_emphasis" style="font-style: italic;">ayer</span> (yesterday), <span class="brown_emphasis" style="font-style: italic;">anoche</span> (last night), <span class="brown_emphasis" style="font-style: italic;">la semana pasada</span> (last week), <span class="brown_emphasis" style="font-style: italic;">el año pasado</span> (last year), <span class="brown_emphasis" style="font-style: italic;">en 2010</span>.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="brown_emphasis">Ayer</span> <span class="green_emphasis">comí</span> ensalada. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Yesterday I ate salad.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">(Yesterday is finished.)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="brown_emphasis">El año pasado</span> <span class="green_emphasis">viajamos</span> a México. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Last year we traveled to Mexico.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">(Last year is finished.)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Experiences and Results</div>

<p>The <strong>Present Perfect</strong> is also used to talk about life experiences generally (without mentioning a specific time) or past actions that have consequences in the present.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">¿Alguna vez <span class="green_emphasis">has estado</span> en Italia? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Have you ever been to Italy?</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ya <span class="green_emphasis">he terminado</span> mis deberes. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I have already finished my homework.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Comparison Table</div>

<p>Compare the forms of

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

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/18/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Pretérito perfecto simple</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

yo

</span>salí

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tú

</span>saliste

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

él

</span>salió

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

nosotros

</span>salimos

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

vosotros

</span>salisteis

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

ellos

</span>salieron

</span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/114/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Pretérito perfecto</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

yo

</span>he salido

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tú

</span>has salido

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

él

</span>ha salido

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

nosotros

</span>hemos salido

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

vosotros

</span>habéis salido

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms highlighted_conjugation">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

ellos

</span>han salido

</span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Regional Differences</div>

<p>The distinction above is strictly followed in <strong>Spain</strong>. However, in many parts of <strong>Latin America</strong>, the Preterite is often used for most past actions, even those in the immediate past or unfinished time frames.</p>

<ul>

<li>

<div><strong>Use with "this morning" (Spain):</strong></div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Esta mañana <span class="green_emphasis">he hablado</span> con Ana.</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>Use with "this morning" (Latin America):</strong></div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Esta mañana <span class="green_emphasis">hablé</span> con Ana.</div>

</li>

</ul>

<p>Students may also confuse these usages with the

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/spanish_preterite_imperfect/" target="_blank">Imperfect tense</a>