Spanish grammar: pretérito perfecto

What this grammar point covers

The 'pretérito perfecto' in Spanish is a tense used to talk about actions that have happened recently or have a connection to the present.

When to use it

Use the 'pretérito perfecto' to talk about actions completed in a time period that includes the present (like today, this week), or for experiences that are relevant now.

Key forms

• Form: haber (present) + past participle
• Example: he comido, has vivido, hemos hablado

Examples

Tips

• Always use the correct form of 'haber' before the past participle.
• The past participle usually ends in -ado (for -ar verbs) or -ido (for -er/-ir verbs).
• Do not use 'haber' as a main verb; it is only an auxiliary in this tense.

Exceptions and edge cases

• Some past participles are irregular, like 'escrito' (from escribir), 'visto' (from ver), or 'hecho' (from hacer).