The presente perfecto describes completed actions that have a connection to the present. It's formed using the present tense of haber + past participle. The past participle is formed by removing -ar/-er/-ir and adding -ado (for -ar verbs) or -ido (for -er/-ir verbs). It is used for:
- Actions completed in the recent past
- Past actions with present consequences
- Actions that started in the past and continue to the present
- Experiences that happened at an unspecified time
- Actions in a time period that hasn't finished
Regular Conjugations
| Pronoun | -AR | -ER/-IR |
|---|---|---|
| yo | he + -ado | he + -ido |
| tú | has + -ado | has + -ido |
| él/ella/ud. | ha + -ado | ha + -ido |
| nosotros | hemos + -ado | hemos + -ido |
| vosotros | habéis + -ado | habéis + -ido |
| ellos/uds. | han + -ado | han + -ido |
haber carries the person; the participle is the same for everyone.
Regular -AR verb: hablar in Presente Perfecto
An -er or -ir verb takes -ido in the same place.
Regular -ER/-IR verb: comer in Presente Perfecto
Regional Usage
In much of Spain, a current period often takes the present perfect (Hoy he comido). In much of Latin America, the preterite is also common in the same context (Hoy comí).
Common Irregular Past Participles
A few participles end in neither -ado nor -ido. haber is unaffected.
| Infinitive | Participle |
|---|---|
| abrir | abierto |
| decir | dicho |
| escribir | escrito |
| hacer | hecho |
| morir | muerto |
| poner | puesto |
| romper | roto |
| ver | visto |
| cubrir | cubierto |
| resolver | resuelto |
| freír | frito/freído |
| imprimir | impreso/imprimido |