PRESENT PERFECT

http://youtu.be/P6aiGiWwvIU

 

 The present perfect is used in the English language to narrate events that have already occurred in a time-specific or not, in the past but still have a relevance in the present.

Corresponds in structure with the present perfect in Spanish, ie, the verb is constructed with the auxiliary verb have or if you have third-person singular (he, she, it), plus the participle of the verb: subject + have / has + verb in past participle, but not always in use: I have been married for two years. (I've been married two years.)

In the sense of the previous example, it is especially important to use to connect the past with the present, and even future. Hence, frequent use adverbs of time as for, since, etc.

 

Examples:

 

Affirmative

• I have eaten an apple. (Me he comido una manzana.)

• He has bought a car. (Él ha comprado un coche.).

Negative

• I've never been to Salamanca. (Nunca he estado en Salamanca.)
• I haven't finished yet. (Aún no he terminado.)

Interrogative

• How many times have you seen that film? (¿Cuantas veces has visto esa película?)
• Have you been to the Prado? (¿Has estado en el Prado?)

  For and Since

Affirmative

• I have been here for four years. (Llevo cuatro años aquí.)
• I have lived here since 2011 (Vivo aquí desde 2011.)

Negative

• I haven't seen them for a long time. (No les veo desde hace mucho tiempo.)
• I haven't been here since I was a kid. (No he estado aquí desde que era crío.)

  Already, (not) yet o just

While for and since set when the action is over, shares down already and yet still not finished. Yet only be used in negative and question and can only be used already in the affirmative:

• already: ya, p. ej. I have already done my homework (Ya he hecho mis deberes.);
• just: acabar de, p. ej. I have just done my homework (Acabo de hacer mis deberes.);
• (not) yet: todavía no, aún, p. ej. I haven't done my homework yet (Todavía no he hecho mis deberes.)