What is the present perfect used for ?

Question

darkbluechocobo · Answer

@gelidium

gelidium · Answer

Give me time to answer you properly please.

darkbluechocobo · Answer

i shall

gelidium · Answer

The present perfect tense is frequently used for past actions that continue into the present, or continue to affect the present.

He estado dos semanas en Madrid.
I have been in Madrid for two weeks.

Diego ha sido mi amigo por veinte anos.
Diego has been my friend for 20 years.

The present perfect tense is often used with the adverb "ya".

Ya han comido.
They have already eaten.

La empleada ya ha limpiado la casa.
The maid has already cleaned the house.

The present perfect is formed by combining the auxiliary verb "has" or "have" with the past participle.

I have studied.
He has written a letter to María.
We have been stranded for six days.



Because the present perfect is a compound tense, two verbs are required: the main verb and the auxiliary verb.

I have studied.
(main verb: studied ; auxiliary verb: have)

He has written a letter to Maria.
(main verb: written ; auxiliary verb: has)

We have been stranded for six days.
(main verb: been ; auxiliary verb: have)

In Spanish, the present perfect tense is formed by using the present tense of the auxiliary verb "haber" with the past participle. Haber is conjugated as follows:

he
has
ha
hemos
habeis
han

The following examples all use the past participle for the verb "comer."

(yo) He comido.
I have eaten.

(tú) Has comido.
You have eaten.

(él) Ha comido.
He has eaten.

(nosotros) Hemos comido.
We have eaten.

(vosotros) Habeis comido.
You-all have eaten.

(ellos) Han comido.
They have eaten.