As it was mentioned many times in the previous lesson, Pretérito Perfecto appeared to show results of actions that were performed in the past. This is it’s main and the most important feature, but not the only one. Let’s explore some other use cases, which are also very common in Spanish.
In short:
a. result of an action
b. time period, that hasn’t ended
b. something has happened not long ago
The main use case of Pretérito Perfecto is not an action, but it’s outcome. The outcome is related to the present. In this case, time markers are not really needed.
He visto este video – I’ve seen this movie
Pretérito Perfecto in this sentence makes it clear, that it doesn’t matter when exactly someone saw the movie. What matters is the outcome right now – has seen or not up to this moment. Yes or not.
There are some time markers that come in handy, when it comes to talking about results.
ya — already
todavía — yet
aún — yet
alguna vez — any time, ever
cuántas veces — how many times
una vez, dos veces, etc. — once, twice, etc.
nunca — never
jamás — never
siempre — always
¿Ya ha vuelto Daniel? – Has Daniel already come back?
No, todavía no ha vuelto – No, he hasn’t come yet
The adverbs todavía and aún are synonyms, and can be used interchangeably.
Daniel todavía no ha vuelto = Daniel aún no ha vuelto
Nunca and jamás are also synonyms, but jamás is used less, than nunca.
¿Has estado alguna vez en Ibiza? – Have you ever been to Ibiza?
No, no he estado nunca en Ibiza – No, I’ve never been to Ibiza
Nunca is a negative adverb. That means that the negative word no is omitted, when nunca comes in front of a verb.
Nunca he estado en Ibiza – I’ve never been to Ibiza
Don’t say: Nunca no he estado en Ibiza
If nunca is placed after a verb, no should be used.
Nunca he estado en Ibiza = No he estado en Ibiza nunca
The same is true for jamás.
Jamás he estado en Ibiza = No he estado en Ibiza jamás
Pretérito Perfecto is also suitable to say, how many times an action has been produced until now.
¿Cuántas veces habéis visitado el museo del Prado? – How many times have you visited the Prado Museum?
Hemos visitado el museo cuatro veces – We’ve visited the museum four times
It’s about the result that is visible now. Don’t confuse it with Indefinido, which also can be used to say how many times something was done, but in the past, without any relation to the present moment.
The adverbs siempre and nunca are another example, that demonstrates that time markers are not unique for a particular grammar tense. If you need to say, that something has always been happening up to this moment, use Pretérito Perfecto.
Siempre te he dicho que hay que estudiar español – I’ve always told you, that it’s important to learn Spanish
Mi abuelo ha fumado siempre – My grandfather has always been smoking
If you use Indefinido instead, it will mean that the actions were finished some time ago.
Mi abuelo ha fumado siempre – My grandfather has always been smoking (up to now)
Mi abuelo fumó siempre – My grandfather was always smoking (up to some moment in the past)
Try it yourself:
Have you already done the homework?
Why haven’t you been to Granada yet? (vosotros)
I’ve never been to Venezuela
You’ve always been very smart
If an action has been produced in a time period, that hasn’t ended yet, use Pretérito Perfecto, as well.
Hoy he tenido un día feliz – Today I’ve had a happy day
Esta semana ha abierto una farmacia al lado – This week a pharmacy has been opened nearby
Such time periods as today and this week are still lasting now.
These are some time markers that show an unfinished time period:
hoy — today
esta semana — this week
este mes — this month
este año — this year
este verano — this summer
Este mes no he ido al gimnasio – This month I haven’t gone to the gym
Este año hemos trabajado demasiado – This year you have been working too much
Este otoño ha llovido mucho – This autumn it has rained a lot
Try it yourself:
Today we haven’t gone to school
Where have you been this summer?
She has changed her job this week
An unfinished time period makes a difference between Pretérito Perfecto and Indefinido. In case of Pretérito Perfecto, this period hasn’t ended yet. In case of Indefinido, the time period is already over, it ended somewhere in the past.
Esta semana he comprado un portátil – This week I’ve bought a laptop (the week hasn’t ended yet)
La semana pasada compré un portátil – Last week I bought a laptop (the week has already ended)
Don’t use Pretérito Perfecto with such time markers as ayer, la semana pasada, el mes pasado, hace dos años, en 1997. Use Indefinido instead.
Try it yourself:
Lola has come today
Lola came yesterday
Last year we had a vacation
This year we’ve had a vacation
Pretérito Perfecto can be used when something has been done just yet, or not so long ago.
He llamado a Antonio hace cinco minutos – I called Antonio five minutes ago
¿Has oído algo ahora? – Have you heard anything now?
Hemos tenido muchas complicaciones últimamente – We’ve had many troubles lately
Time markers:
hace poco — not long ago
no hace mucho — not long ago
hace un momento, hace un rato – just yet
ahora — now
ahora mismo — right now
últimamente — lately
recientemente — recently
Try it yourself:
The Spanish course started not long ago
Right now I’ve received the money
They’ve lived on an island recently
The train has just left
In Latin America Pretérito Perfecto is less common, than in Spain. It’s replaced by Indefinido in most situations. However, Spaniards will choose Pretérito Perfecto, when it’s needed.
Ejercicio 1
Say it in Spanish
this week
this year
already
yet
never
ever
this weekend
lately
right now
not long ago
Ejercicio 2
Translate from Spanish
1. Hoy el profesor ha dicho que estudiamos bien
2. Los niños ya han vuelto del colegio
3. Este verano nos hemos relajado muy bien
4. Últimamente ha habido muchas lluvias
5. ¿Ya has hecho las pruebas de sangre?
6. ¿Habéis probado alguna vez un cocido montañés?
7. Aún no hemos visto al entrenador
8. Nunca he sido tan feliz
9. Te has puesto ese pantalón sólo una vez
10. ¿Se han despertado tus padres?
Ejercicio 3
Translate into Spanish
1. Have you already had breakfast?
2. My parents haven’t come home yet
3. My favourite author has written a new book, which I haven’t read yet
4. What have you said? (usted)
5. Have you ever seen the Niagara Falls? (vosotros)
6. We haven’t had time to answer your email
7. Today Pablo has left home early
8. We have already started learning French
9. Where have you hanged the painting?
10. Has she ever been to Australia?
11. They have got married this month
12. Where have you come from? (ustedes)
13. I’ve just broken a plate
14. Have the shops already opened?
15. We’ve never been to this square
16. I’ve read two books lately
17. Rafa has seen her only once