Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use the Present Perfect for time still ongoing, and the Preterite for finished, specific moments in the past.
- Use Present Perfect (he comido) for time that hasn't finished yet, like 'today' or 'this week'.
- Use Preterite (comí) for completed actions at a specific point in time, like 'yesterday' or 'last year'.
- In Spain, Present Perfect is used more frequently for recent past; in Latin America, Preterite is preferred.
Overview
he llegado)라고 메시지를 보낸 적이 있나요? 스페인어에서 현재 완료와 단순 과거 중 하나를 선택하는 것은 라이브 스트리밍과 녹화된 비디오 중 하나를 선택하는 것과 같습니다.How This Grammar Works
Formation Pattern
When To Use It
Common Mistakes
Contrast With Similar Patterns
Quick FAQ
Comparison of Past Tense Formations
| Subject | Pretérito Perfecto (Hoy) | Pretérito Indefinido (Ayer) |
|---|---|---|
|
Yo
|
he hablado
|
hablé
|
|
Tú
|
has hablado
|
hablaste
|
|
Él/Ella
|
ha hablado
|
habló
|
|
Nosotros
|
hemos hablado
|
hablamos
|
|
Vosotros
|
habéis hablado
|
hablasteis
|
|
Ellos
|
han hablado
|
hablaron
|
Meanings
This rule governs the choice between the compound past (Present Perfect) and the simple past (Preterite) based on the psychological distance of the time frame.
Ongoing Time
Actions occurring within a time frame that includes the present.
“Hoy he desayunado café.”
“Esta semana hemos viajado mucho.”
Completed Past
Actions that happened at a finished, specific point in the past.
“Ayer comí pizza.”
“El año pasado fui a Madrid.”
Reference Table
| 시간 표시어 | 추천 시제 | 예시 문장 | 의미 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Hoy (오늘)
|
Present Perfect
|
Hoy he bebido café.
|
오늘 커피를 마셨어요.
|
|
Ayer (어제)
|
Preterite
|
Ayer bebí café.
|
어제 커피를 마셨어요.
|
|
Esta semana (이번 주)
|
Present Perfect
|
He trabajado mucho.
|
이번 주에 일을 많이 했어요.
|
|
El año pasado (작년)
|
Preterite
|
Trabajé en Londres.
|
작년에 런던에서 일했어요.
|
|
Todavía no (아직 ~않다)
|
Present Perfect
|
No he visto la película.
|
아직 그 영화를 안 봤어요.
|
|
Anoche (어젯밤)
|
Preterite
|
Salí con mis amigos.
|
어젯밤에 친구들과 나갔어요.
|
|
Ya (이미)
|
Present Perfect
|
Ya he terminado.
|
벌써 다 끝냈어요.
|
|
En 2010 (2010년에)
|
Preterite
|
Compré mi casa.
|
2010년에 집을 샀어요.
|
격식 수준 스펙트럼
He finalizado el trabajo. (Workplace)
He terminado el trabajo. (Workplace)
Ya terminé el trabajo. (Workplace)
Ya acabé con eso. (Workplace)
스페인어 과거 시제 (A1)
현재완료 (Perfecto)
- Hoy 오늘
- Reciente 최근
단순과거 (Indefinito)
- Ayer 어제
- Terminado 완료됨
어떤 시제를 써야 할까요?
결정 트리: 현재완료 vs 단순과거
'오늘' 일어난 일인가요?
시간이 완전히 끝났나요 (예: 어제)?
자주 쓰는 시간 표시어
열린 시간 (현재완료)
- • Hoy
- • Este mes
- • Todavía no
닫힌 시간 (단순과거)
- • Ayer
- • El otro día
- • En 1999
수준별 예문
Hoy he comido pan.
Today I have eaten bread.
Ayer comí pizza.
Yesterday I ate pizza.
Esta semana he trabajado.
This week I have worked.
El lunes fui al cine.
On Monday I went to the cinema.
¿Has visto mi libro?
Have you seen my book?
El año pasado viajé a Perú.
Last year I traveled to Peru.
No he terminado la tarea.
I haven't finished the homework.
Ayer no salí de casa.
Yesterday I didn't leave the house.
Ya he hablado con el jefe.
I have already spoken with the boss.
Cuando era joven, viví en Madrid.
When I was young, I lived in Madrid.
Esta mañana no he tenido tiempo.
This morning I haven't had time.
En 2010, ganamos el mundial.
In 2010, we won the World Cup.
Ha sido un año muy difícil para todos.
It has been a very difficult year for everyone.
Ayer, tras mucho esfuerzo, logré terminar el proyecto.
Yesterday, after much effort, I managed to finish the project.
Nunca he estado en Asia, pero quiero ir.
I have never been to Asia, but I want to go.
El mes pasado, la empresa decidió cambiar su estrategia.
Last month, the company decided to change its strategy.
He reflexionado sobre lo ocurrido y he llegado a una conclusión.
I have reflected on what happened and have reached a conclusion.
Aquel día, el destino cambió nuestras vidas para siempre.
That day, destiny changed our lives forever.
Hasta la fecha, no hemos recibido ninguna respuesta oficial.
To date, we have not received any official response.
En su momento, no comprendí la gravedad de la situación.
At the time, I didn't understand the gravity of the situation.
Ha sido una trayectoria impecable la que ha trazado a lo largo de estos años.
It has been an impeccable trajectory that he has traced throughout these years.
Fue entonces cuando comprendí que la historia se repetía.
It was then that I understood that history was repeating itself.
Hemos de reconocer que los resultados han superado nuestras expectativas.
We must recognize that the results have exceeded our expectations.
Aquella tarde, el sol se ocultó tras las montañas, marcando el fin de una era.
That afternoon, the sun hid behind the mountains, marking the end of an era.
혼동하기 쉬운
Learners often use the Imperfect for completed actions.
Learners use present for recent past.
Learners use Pluperfect for simple past.
자주 하는 실수
Yo he comido ayer.
Yo comí ayer.
Yo comido.
Yo he comido.
He fui a casa.
Fui a casa.
Ayer he ido.
Ayer fui.
Esta semana fui al cine.
Esta semana he ido al cine.
He visto a Juan el año pasado.
Vi a Juan el año pasado.
Has tú comido?
¿Has comido tú?
Ya comí.
Ya he comido.
Nunca comí eso.
Nunca he comido eso.
Recién fui.
Recién he ido.
En 1990, he viajado.
En 1990, viajé.
He tenido un problema ayer.
Tuve un problema ayer.
Siempre he ido a la playa cuando era niño.
Siempre iba a la playa...
문장 패턴
Hoy he ___ mucho.
Ayer ___ a la tienda.
Esta semana no he ___ a nadie.
El año pasado ___ un viaje increíble.
Real World Usage
¿Qué has hecho hoy?
He trabajado en ventas durante cinco años.
Ayer fui al museo.
¡Hoy he subido una foto nueva!
He pedido pizza hace diez minutos.
En 2022, el estudio demostró que...
'Haber'라는 닻을 기억하세요
Hoy he comido paella.
강세 하나로 시간이 바뀌어요
Él habló con María.
마드리드 vs 멕시코시티
Ya desayuné.Smart Tips
Immediately think Preterite.
Immediately think Perfect.
Use the Perfect.
Use the Preterite for the main events.
발음
Haber
The 'h' is always silent.
Participles
Ensure the 'ado' or 'ido' is clearly articulated.
Question
¿Has comido? ↑
Rising intonation at the end for yes/no questions.
암기하기
기억법
Perfect is for the Present, Preterite is for the Past.
시각적 연상
Imagine a clock that is still ticking for the Perfect, and a clock that has been smashed with a hammer for the Preterite.
Rhyme
Si el tiempo no se ha ido, usa el Perfecto Compuesto; si el tiempo ya se ha ido, el Indefinido es el resto.
Story
Today I have been busy (he estado). I have worked (he trabajado) and I have run (he corrido). But yesterday, I was lazy (fui). I slept (dormí) and I watched (vi) TV all day.
Word Web
챌린지
Write 5 sentences about your day using 'he' and 5 sentences about yesterday using the Preterite.
문화 노트
The Pretérito Perfecto is used extensively for recent past, even if the time is finished (e.g., 'Hoy he ido').
The Pretérito Indefinido is preferred for almost all past actions, even recent ones.
Similar to Mexico, the Pretérito Indefinido is dominant, and the 'vos' form changes the conjugation.
The Pretérito Perfecto Compuesto evolved from the Latin 'habere' + past participle, originally meaning 'to have something in a state of completion'.
대화 시작하기
¿Qué has hecho hoy?
¿Has viajado a otro país?
¿Qué fue lo más interesante que hiciste el año pasado?
¿Cómo ha cambiado tu vida en los últimos meses?
일기 주제
자주 하는 실수
Test Yourself
'오늘 나는 일을 많이 했다'를 스페인어로 하면?
Ayer (yo/comer) ___ en un restaurante mexicano.
Find and fix the mistake:
Esta semana yo comí mucho sushi.
Score: /3
연습 문제
8 exercisesHoy yo ___ (comer) mucho.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
El año pasado he viajado a España.
He hablado con él.
The Preterite is for finished time.
A: ¿Has visto a María? B: Sí, la ___ ayer.
he / hoy / trabajado / yo
Ayer -> ?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercises¿Ya (tú/ver) ___ la nueva serie de Netflix?
ayer / nosotros / pizza / comimos
Last night I slept eight hours.
알맞은 짝을 연결하세요:
Él han comido mucho hoy.
'hacer'(하다)의 불규칙 과거분사를 고르세요:
El lunes pasado (tú/hablar) ___ con tu madre.
I have already finished the homework.
esta / ¿ / qué / hecho / has / mañana / ?
라틴아메리카에서 더 선호하는 표현은?
Score: /10
자주 묻는 질문 (8)
It comes from the Latin 'habere', meaning 'to have'.
Yes, e.g., 'Hoy he trabajado, pero ayer no trabajé'.
It has many irregular verbs, but the pattern is consistent.
If in doubt, use the Preterite; it's safer in most of the Spanish-speaking world.
In Spain, yes. In Latin America, it can trigger the preterite.
It's a regional preference for simplicity and directness.
Yes, like 'hecho' (hacer) or 'visto' (ver).
Imperfect is for background/habits; Preterite/Perfect is for completed actions.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Present Perfect vs Simple Past
Spanish regional variation makes the choice more complex than in English.
Passé Composé vs Passé Simple
Spanish uses the Preterite in daily speech, unlike French.
Perfekt vs Präteritum
German register split is mandatory; Spanish is dialectal.
Ta-form
Japanese lacks the compound perfect structure.
Perfective aspect
Arabic does not have a compound perfect structure like Spanish.
Le particle
Chinese does not conjugate verbs for tense.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
관련 동영상
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