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Spanish Grammar: Verbs
present perfect
(el perfecto)
This tense corresponds to the English present perfect. It is formed by the present of 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.
He conocido a pocos hombres más valientes que él.
I have known few men more valiant than he.
Lo han visto hoy.
They have seen him today.
NOTE: In English, an action which began in the past and is continuing in the present is expressed by the present perfect tense. In Spanish, as we have already pointed out, the present tense is used idiomatically with hace.
Hace mucho tiempo que le esperan.
They have been waiting for him for a long time.
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Pluperfect AKA Past Perfect
(el pluscuamperfecto)
The pluperfect is used to express what had happened. It is formed by the imperfect of haber plus the past participle. The English translation is had plus the past participle.
Habían oído el sonido.
They had heard the sound.
¿Quién había comido el queso?
Who had eaten the cheese?
NOTE: In English, an action which began in the past and continued until it was interrupted by another past action is expressed by the pluperfect tense(1). In Spanish, however, the imperfect tense is used for this (with hacía)(2).
(1)
I had waited for an hour.
(2)
Hacía poco tiempo que estaban aquí.
They had been here for a short time.
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Past Anterior aka Preterite Perfect
(el pretÉrito perfecto)
The preterite perfect is translated into English exactly like the pluperfect, but is used only after conjunctions of time such as, cuando (when), después que (after), luego que (as soon as), etc. It is formed by adding the past participle to the preterite of haber.
Luego que hubo vuelto del viaje, se enfermó.
As soon as he (had) returned from the trip, he became ill.
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Future Perfect (el futuro perfecto)
This tense expresses what shall or will have happened. It is formed by the future tense of haber plus the past participle of the main verb.
Para las dos, habré leído el artículo.
By two o'clock, I shall have read the article.
Habrá cantado para el rey.
She will have sung for the king.
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Conditional Perfect (el potencial perfecto)
This tense expresses what should or would have happened.The conditional perfect is formed by placing the conditional tense of the verb haber before the past participle of the main verb.
Juan lo habría hecho por Ud.
John would have done it for you.
Yo habría gastado el dinero, si lo hubiese tenido.
I should have spent the money, had I had it.