Para formar el pretérito perfecto , se conjuga el verbo "haber" seguido del participio perfecto.

(To form the pretérito perfecto, the verb "haber" is conjugated followed by the perfect participle.)

  1. It is used for actions that have happened recently or that have occurred but are not yet finished.
  2. The participle of regular verbs is formed by adding the endings "-ado" (verbs in "-ar") or "-ido" (for verbs in "-er" and "-ir").
  3. The past participle is invariable. It is the same for all personal pronouns.
Conjugación de "haber" (Conjugation of "haber")Participio  (Participle)Ejemplo (Example)
Yo hetomadoHe tomado una bebida en el bar. (I have had a drink at the bar.)
Tú hasHas tomado el menú en el restaurante. (You have had the menu at the restaurant.)
Él/ella haHa tomado un plato en la pizzería. (He/She has had a dish at the pizzeria.)
Nosotros/-as hemosHemos tomado el postre en la cafetería. (We have had the dessert at the café.)
Vosotros/-as habéisHabéis tomado un café en el restaurante. (You (pl.) have had a coffee at the restaurant.)
Ellos/-as hanHan tomado la bebida que les gustaba. (They have had the drink they liked.)

Exceptions!

  1. Some participles are irregular. For example: "escribir - escrito, abrir - abierto, hacer - hecho, decir - dicho, ver- visto, romper - roto."

Exercise 1: "Haber" + participio (el pretérito perfecto)

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

hemos tomado, he tomado, habéis tomado, has tomado, has comido, han bebido, ha comido, hemos bebido

1. Beber:
Ellos ... un zumo en la cafetería.
(They have drunk a juice in the café.)
2. Tomar:
Tú ... tu plato favorito en el restaurante.
(You have taken your favourite dish at the restaurant.)
3. Comer:
Ella ... un plato de pasta en el restaurante italiano.
(She has eaten a plate of pasta in the Italian restaurant.)
4. Tomar:
Nosotros ... una bebida fría en la cafetería.
(We have had a cold drink in the café.)
5. Beber:
Nosotras ... una bebida en el bar.
(We have drunk a drink at the bar.)
6. Comer:
Tú ... mucho hoy en la pizzería.
(You have eaten a lot today at the pizzeria.)
7. Tomar:
Vosotros ... el menú para leerlo.
(You have taken the menu to read it.)
8. Tomar:
Yo ... un postre pequeño.
(I have had a small dessert.)

Exercise 2: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

1. Hoy ___ un café y una tostada en la barra antes de trabajar.

Today ___ a coffee and a toast at the bar before work.)

2. Nosotros ___ una mesa para cuatro a las nueve.

We ___ a table for four at nine o'clock.)

3. Perdona, todavía no ___ la bebida.

Sorry, I still haven't ___ the drink.)

4. Vosotros ___ una buena propina al camarero.

You (plural) ___ a good tip for the waiter.)

Exercise 3: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite the sentences in the present perfect tense using the verb in parentheses, as in the example: I (tomar) a drink at the bar. → I have had a drink at the bar.

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  1. Nosotros (comer) en un restaurante italiano esta noche.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Hemos comido en un restaurante italiano esta noche.
    (We have eaten at an Italian restaurant tonight.)
  2. Yo (abrir) una botella de vino para la cena.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    He abierto una botella de vino para la cena.
    (I have opened a bottle of wine for dinner.)
  3. Ellos (ver) el menú del día en la pizarra.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Han visto el menú del día en la pizarra.
    (They have seen the daily menu on the board.)
  4. Tú (reservar) una mesa para cuatro personas.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Has reservado una mesa para cuatro personas.
    (You have reserved a table for four people.)
  5. Vosotros (escribir) un correo al restaurante.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Habéis escrito un correo al restaurante.
    (You (plural) have written an email to the restaurant.)
  6. Ella (hacer) una llamada para cambiar la hora de la reserva.
    ⇒ _______________________________________________ Example
    Ha hecho una llamada para cambiar la hora de la reserva.
    (She has made a call to change the reservation time.)

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