Present Perfect

Present Perfect

How it Corresponds to English

The present perfect is used to express an action that happened in the past.

Present perfect example:
to eat

— apuntar (to make a note of)

He apuntado tu dirección en mi agenda.

I have made a note of your address in my address book.

Note:

In English, an action which began in the past and is continuing in the present is expressed by the present perfect. However, in Spanish it is expressed idiomatically with the verb hacer.

Hace mucho tiempo que le esperan.

They have been waiting for him for a long time.

How it is Formed

It is formed by combining the present of the verb haber plus the past participle. The English equivalent is have (has) plus the past participle. The present perfect is used to express what has happened.

First conjugation (ar) Verbs

hablar (to speak)

Second conjugation (er) Verbs

comer (to eat)

Third conjugation (ir) Verbs

vivir (to live)