The "present perfect" of the indicative mood is formed using the formula below:

present indicative conjugation of haber + the past participle = present perfect

The present indicative conjugation of haber is shown below:

haber (conjugation)

The past participle is formed by adding the suffix -ado to -ar verbs and -ido to -er and -ir verbs.

Example: the past participle of hablar (to speak) is hablado. The table below shows the conjugation of hablar in the present perfect:

hablar (conjugation)

he hablado	(I have spoken)
has hablado	(you have spoken)
ha hablado	(he/she/you have spoken)
hemos hablado	(we have spoken)
habéis hablado	(you guys have spoken)
han hablado	(they/you all have spoken)

Let's look at a few sentences:

¿Has aprendido muchas palabras?
Have you learned lots of words?

Tú has cometido hurto.
You have committed theft.

¿Ha estado bebiendo alcohol?
Have you been drinking alcohol?

¿Hemos mandado ya las invitaciones a licitación?
Have we sent the invitation for bids?

Note: In Spanish the present perfect is usually called preterite perfect.

[ view full lesson ]