The Spanish Present Perfect
The present perfect tells you what has happened up to now. It uses a form of haber plus a past participle. It is simple to form, because the participle never changes with the subject.
Quick answer
- Form it with haber and a participle: he hablado, has comido, ha vivido
- Participles end in -ado or -ido: hablado, comido, vivido
- Common irregular participles: hecho, dicho, visto, escrito, puesto, vuelto
How to form it
Use the present tense of haber and the past participle. Never separate them with other words: put object pronouns and no before haber.
| Person | Haber | Example |
|---|---|---|
| yo | he | he hablado |
| tú | has | has comido |
| él, ella, usted | ha | ha vivido |
| nosotros | hemos | hemos escrito |
| ellos, ustedes | han | han visto |
Examples
- He hablado con mi madre hoy.I have spoken with my mother today.Present perfect.
- ¿Has comido ya?Have you eaten yet?Question.
- No hemos visto esa película.We have not seen that movie.No goes before haber.
- Ya lo he hecho.I have already done it.Pronoun before haber.
Irregular participles
Regular participles end in -ado (for -ar verbs) and -ido (for -er/-ir verbs). A few common verbs are irregular. Verbs formed from them, like deshacer or describir, follow the same pattern.
| Infinitive | Participle |
|---|---|
| hacer | hecho |
| decir | dicho |
| ver | visto |
| escribir | escrito |
| poner | puesto |
| volver | vuelto |
| abrir | abierto |
| romper | roto |
Examples
- ¿Qué has hecho hoy?What have you done today?Hecho.
- Nunca he visto el mar.I have never seen the sea.Visto.
- Mi hermano ha escrito un libro.My brother has written a book.Escrito.
When to use it
Use the present perfect for experiences up to now (he viajado mucho), for actions in a period that is not over (esta semana, hoy, este año), and with ya, todavía no, nunca, and alguna vez.
Examples
- Este año he viajado a tres países.This year I have traveled to three countries.Period not over.
- ¿Alguna vez has probado el mole?Have you ever tried mole?Experience.
- Todavía no he terminado.I have not finished yet.Todavía no.
- Ya hemos cenado.We have already had dinner.Ya.
Spain vs. Latin America
In Spain, the present perfect is also used for things that happened earlier today: Hoy me he levantado temprano. In Mexico and much of Latin America, many speakers use the preterite: Hoy me levanté temprano. Both are correct in their regions.
Examples
- Hoy me he levantado temprano.I got up early today.Common in Spain.
- Hoy me levanté temprano.I got up early today.Common in Mexico.
Spanish around the world
- In Mexico, people use the present perfect less often than in Spain. Use it for experiences (¿Has estado en México?) and recent results, and use the preterite for finished events.
Common mistakes
Incorrect: He comido hablado.
Correct: He comido y he hablado.
Each action needs its own haber, or use a conjunction.
Incorrect: Yo he ido a la tienda ayer.
Correct: Yo fui a la tienda ayer.
With ayer, a finished past time, use the preterite.
Incorrect: Ellos han escribido una carta.
Correct: Ellos han escrito una carta.
Escribir has an irregular participle: escrito.
Incorrect: Hemos las visto.
Correct: Las hemos visto.
Pronouns go before haber.
Remember the pattern
- haber + participle: he, has, ha, hemos, han.
- Participles end in -ado or -ido, with a few irregular ones.
- Pronouns and no go before haber.
Mini practice
5 quick questions. You get feedback right after each answer.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put a word between haber and the participle?
No. Words like ya, nunca, and pronouns go before haber, not between them.
Does the participle change for gender?
Not in the present perfect. Ella ha comido and él ha comido use the same form.
What is the difference from the preterite?
The present perfect connects the past with now. The preterite is a finished event in a closed time.
What is ‘hay que’?
That is a different structure from haber. See our lesson on hay vs. estar.
Ready to practice your Spanish?
The present perfect is easy once you see the pattern. Try a short, free practice session.
Keep learning
Irregular Preterite in Spanish
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