Difference between Pretérito Perfecto and Indefinido
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One of the common mistakes made by Spanish students is the difference between the Pretérito Perfecto and the Indefinido. This lesson will show you how to use both tenses.
Pretérito perfecto | Indefinido |
---|---|
For actions completed at a recent moment in time. El correo ha llegado. (The mail has arrived.) | For an action completed at a specific moment in the past. El avión aterrizó a las doce en punto. (The plane landed at four o’clock.) |
For actions or events occurring in the past that do not refer to a concrete time. Ana nos ha esperado en recepción. (Ana has waited for us in the reception area.) | For an action or event that lasted for a specific period of time when you can determine how long the action took place. Esperó dos horas en la estación. (He waited for two hours at the station.) |
For an action or event initiated in the past that is continuing into the present. Hemos vivido aquí por más de 7 años. (We have lived here for over 7 years.) | For series of actions or events completed in the past even if you cannot determine when these actions took place or for how long. Me levanté, desayuné, me duché y me fui a trabajar. (I woke up, had breakfast, took a shower and went to work.) |
/ | For actions that are not usually repeated using the following expressions: Mi hija cumplió 4 años. (My daughter turned 4.) |
The actions in “Pretérito Perfecto” are related to the present whereas the actions in Indefinido are not.
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Pretérito Perfecto | Indefinido |
---|---|
hoy (today) | ayer (yesterday) |
hace dos horas (two hours ago) | anteayer (the day before yesterday) |
esta semana (this week) | anoche (Last night) |
estos días (these days) | la semana pasada (last week) |
este martes/ mes/ año (this Tuesday/month/ year) | el mes/ año pasado (last month/year) |
nunca (never) | hace tres semanas (3 weeks ago) |
todavía no/ ya (not yet/ already) | en 2001 (in 2001) |
alguna vez (sometime) | de repente (suddenly) |
últimamente/ en los últimos tiempos (lately) | el día de su cumpleaños (the day of his birthday) |
hace poco (recently) | al comenzar mi trabajo (when I started working) |
If you would like to know more about the uses and the conjugation of Pretérito Perfecto and the Pretérito Indefinido, then have a look at our pages!
Example:
Ayer hice pasta para comer. (Yesterday I made pasta for lunch)
No sé si hoy ha ido a la oficina. (I don't know if he has gone to the office today)
El mes pasado me (inscribir-yo) en el polideportivo de mi barrio. Como no (recibir-yo) ninguna confirmación, hace 3 días (llamar-yo) por teléfono para ver si mi inscripción estaba en regla. Entonces la secretaria (mirar-ella) en el ordenador y me (decir-ella) : "Ya (introducir/yo) tus datos y tu nombre no (aparecer-él) “¿Estás seguro de que te (registrarse-tú) correctamente? ”. Yo (responder) : “Claro que sí. ¿De verdad no (encontrar/tú) a nadie en la lista con el apellido Martinez?”». Al final todo fue un error. Menos mal!
Last month I enrolled the sports centre in my neighbourhood. As I didn't receive any confirmation, 3 days ago I called them to check if my registration was ok. The secretary had a look at the computer and said: "I have already introduced your details and your name didn't show up. Are you sure you did the registration properly?" I answered: "Of course I did. Are you sure you haven't found anybody called Martinez?". Finally it turns out everything was a mistake. Just as well!
Example:
¿Has ido (ir-tú) a comprar? (Did you go shopping?)
Ayer fui al mercado. (Yesterday I went to the market)
1. (comer-yo) demasiado, me duele el estómago.
(I have eaten too much, my stomach hurts)
2. Aquel verano (aprender-yo) muchísimo español, porque (conocer-yo) a una chica de Valencia.
(That summer I learnt a lot of Spanish because I met a girl from Valencia)
3. Mi padre (estudiar-él) en la Universidad de Madrid en los años 60.
(My dad studied at the University of Madrid in the 60's)
4. ¿Dónde (estar-ella) Julia este fin de semana?
(Where has Julia been this weekend?)
5. Siempre (haber) muchos teatros en Londres.
(There have always been a lot of theatres in London)
6. ¡Ya ! (terminar-yo)
(I have already finished!)
7. Cuando (ser) tu cumpleaños?
(When was your birthday?)
8. ¿ (estar-tú) alguna vez en España?
(Have you ever been in Spain)
9. Anoche me (despertarme-yo) a las 3:33 am.
(Last night I woke up at 3:33 am)
Example:
He ido (ir-yo) a comprar. (I have gone shopping)
Ayer fui (ir-yo) al cine. (Yesterday I went to the cinema)
Mi Madre
Mi madre (nacer-ella) en 1959. (estudiar-ella) para ser maestra y (trabajar-ella) en una escuela en Valencia. Siempre (vivir-ella) allí, y en 1977 (conocer-ella) a mi padre y se (casarse-ellos) al año de conocerse.
My mum
My mum was born in 1959. She studied to become a teacher and worked in a school in Valencia. She always lived there and in 1977, she met my dad. They got married one year after.
Yo
Yo soy su hija Carmen. También (estudiar-yo) para ser maestra, como ella, pero aún no (trabajar-yo) de maestra, sino de dependienta y de camarera. Sin embargo, a diferencia de ella, ya (vivir-yo) en tres países distintos. ¡Son otros tiempos! Aún no (conocer-yo) al amor de mi vida, así que no me (casarme-yo) todavía.
Me
I am her daughter Carmen. I have also studied to become a teacher but I haven't worked yet as so. Instead I have worked as a salewoman and a waitress. However, unlike her, I have lived in 3 different countries. It is different nowadays! I haven't met the love of my life, that's why I haven't got married yet.
Example:
Ayer hice pasta para comer. (Yesterday I made pasta for lunch)
No sé si hoy ha ido a la oficina. (I don't know if he has gone to the office today)
El mes pasado me (inscribir-yo) en el polideportivo de mi barrio. Como no (recibir-yo) ninguna confirmación, hace 3 días (llamar-yo) por teléfono para ver si mi inscripción estaba en regla. Entonces la secretaria (mirar-ella) en el ordenador y me (decir-ella) : "Ya (introducir/yo) tus datos y tu nombre no (aparecer-él) “¿Estás seguro de que te (registrarse-tú) correctamente? ”. Yo (responder) : “Claro que sí. ¿De verdad no (encontrar/tú) a nadie en la lista con el apellido Martinez?”». Al final todo fue un error. Menos mal!
Last month I enrolled the sports centre in my neighbourhood. As I didn't receive any confirmation, 3 days ago I called them to check if my registration was ok. The secretary had a look at the computer and said: "I have already introduced your details and your name didn't show up. Are you sure you did the registration properly?" I answered: "Of course I did. Are you sure you haven't found anybody called Martinez?". Finally it turns out everything was a mistake. Just as well!
Example:
¿Has ido (ir-tú) a comprar? (Did you go shopping?)
Ayer fui al mercado. (Yesterday I went to the market)
1. (comer-yo) demasiado, me duele el estómago.
(I have eaten too much, my stomach hurts)
2. Aquel verano (aprender-yo) muchísimo español, porque (conocer-yo) a una chica de Valencia.
(That summer I learnt a lot of Spanish because I met a girl from Valencia)
3. Mi padre (estudiar-él) en la Universidad de Madrid en los años 60.
(My dad studied at the University of Madrid in the 60's)
4. ¿Dónde (estar-ella) Julia este fin de semana?
(Where has Julia been this weekend?)
5. Siempre (haber) muchos teatros en Londres.
(There have always been a lot of theatres in London)
6. ¡Ya ! (terminar-yo)
(I have already finished!)
7. Cuando (ser) tu cumpleaños?
(When was your birthday?)
8. ¿ (estar-tú) alguna vez en España?
(Have you ever been in Spain)
9. Anoche me (despertarme-yo) a las 3:33 am.
(Last night I woke up at 3:33 am)
Example:
He ido (ir-yo) a comprar. (I have gone shopping)
Ayer fui (ir-yo) al cine. (Yesterday I went to the cinema)
Mi Madre
Mi madre (nacer-ella) en 1959. (estudiar-ella) para ser maestra y (trabajar-ella) en una escuela en Valencia. Siempre (vivir-ella) allí, y en 1977 (conocer-ella) a mi padre y se (casarse-ellos) al año de conocerse.
My mum
My mum was born in 1959. She studied to become a teacher and worked in a school in Valencia. She always lived there and in 1977, she met my dad. They got married one year after.
Yo
Yo soy su hija Carmen. También (estudiar-yo) para ser maestra, como ella, pero aún no (trabajar-yo) de maestra, sino de dependienta y de camarera. Sin embargo, a diferencia de ella, ya (vivir-yo) en tres países distintos. ¡Son otros tiempos! Aún no (conocer-yo) al amor de mi vida, así que no me (casarme-yo) todavía.
Me
I am her daughter Carmen. I have also studied to become a teacher but I haven't worked yet as so. Instead I have worked as a salewoman and a waitress. However, unlike her, I have lived in 3 different countries. It is different nowadays! I haven't met the love of my life, that's why I haven't got married yet.
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I look forward to meeting you. Ya sou!
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Thank you so much, Karolina! I´m happy you enjoy our lessons :) Keep on the hard work!
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I'm specialized in teaching a foreign language to students with learning difficulties.
I have experience in teaching Modern Greek to children and adults of various levels, from absolute beginners to advanced students. My teaching depends on my students, their needs, their interests and their level in Greek language.
The materials I use during the learning journey are updated and colorful learning materials – the materials are structured in accordance with the Common European Framework for Languages (CEFR). Furthermore, I use interactive material, like videos, music, and up-to-date software, where the student gets engaged during the learning process.
My goal is to maintain my students enthusiasm and curiosity during this learning journey. I make sure my students improve their speaking skills and get results so that they can talk with confidence to Greek speakers.
Book your trial lesson and we will discuss your language needs in detail.
I look forward to meeting you. Ya sou!
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This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
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