This lesson covers temporal expressions like "Hace un rato" (a little while ago), "Esta semana" (this week), and "Este mes" (this month), teaching how to use them with the pretérito perfecto tense to describe recent actions within current time frames.
- "Hace" + amount of time is used for an action that has just finished.
- "Esta/Este" + time is used for a period still current.
- Temporal expressions are accompanied by verbs in the present perfect tense.
| Expresión temporal | Tiempo verbal | Ejemplo |
|---|---|---|
| Hace un rato | Pretérito perfecto | He recibido el dinero hace un rato. |
| Esta semana | Pretérito perfecto | Esta semana, he abierto mi primera cuenta bancaria. |
| Hoy | Pretérito perfecto | Hoy he añadido productos al carrito. |
| Este mes | Pretérito perfecto | Este mes he comprado mucho online. |
Exceptions!
- To talk about something that is happening now, you can also use "hoy". In this case, we do not include "este/-a".
Exercise 1: Expresiones temporales: "Hace un rato", "Esta semana", "Este mes",etc...
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
he hecho, abriste, han hablado, has añadido, he añadido, he comprado, usaste
1.
Compar:
: Esta tarde yo ... unas cosas por internet.
(This afternoon I have bought some things online.)
2.
Añadir:
: Este mes yo ... productos a mi cesta de compras.
(This month I have added products to my shopping basket.)
3.
Comprar:
: Hace un rato yo ... una tarjeta de crédito nueva.
(A little while ago I bought a new credit card.)
4.
Abrir:
: Tú ... una cuenta la semana pasada.
(You opened an account last week.)
5.
Añadir:
: Este mes tú ... varias cosas a tu cesta de compras.
(This month you have added several things to your shopping basket.)
6.
Hablar:
: Hace poco ellos ... por teléfono con el banco.
(They have recently spoken to the bank on the phone.)
7.
Hacer:
: Hace un rato yo ... la reserva del vuelo en línea.
(A little while ago I made the flight reservation online.)
8.
Usar:
: Tú ... el cajero hace un rato.
(You used the cash machine a little while ago.)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct sentence according to the usage rules of the time expressions "Hace un rato", "Esta semana", "Este mes" with the present perfect tense.
1.
With "Esta semana" you must use the present perfect tense, but here it is in the simple past (preterite).
With "Hace un rato" the present perfect tense is used, not the present tense.
2.
"Hace" is not used with current periods like "esta semana".
To express a completed action in "esta semana" the present perfect is used, not the present tense.
3.
"Hace" is not used with expressions like "esta semana" which indicate current periods.
You must use the present perfect with "esta semana", not the simple past (preterite).
4.
"Esta semana" requires the present perfect, not the simple past (preterite).
"Hace" is not used with present or current periods like "esta semana".