In this Spanish grammar lesson, you will learn about preterite versus present perfect.
In this lesson you will learn about:
- preterite versus present perfect
- how to use preterite versus present perfect is used in sentences
- how you can quiz yourself on preterite versus present perfect
- how you can practice with flashcards on preterite versus present perfect
- how and why you should use the courses of Language Atlas to learn Spanish
By the end of the lesson you will know all about preterite versus present perfect!
Table of Contents
Preterite versus Present Perfect
In Latin America people prefer to use the preterite rather than the present perfect.
This is true regardless of time frames and the chronological distances of action.
In this way, Latin America differs from Europe where the use of the present perfect is much more significant.
Here are some examples where you can see the preterite in action:
Este mes fuimos varias veces a la playa.
This month we went to the beach several times.
¿Viste la lluvia de estrellas esta noche?
Did you see the star shower last night?
Hoy nos cruzamos con tu hermano cerca del mercado.
Today we ran into your brother near the market.
In Latin America, the usage of the present perfect will depend on where you are, but usually the present perfect will be constricted to:
- actions in the recent past that one wants to emphasize
- actions that started in the past and continue into the present or are not finished
Esta mañana he desayunado con mi prima Gloria, a quien hacía mucho que no veía.
This morning I had breakfast with my cousin Gloria, whom I had not seen for a long time.
Esta semana he recorrido más de 2000 kilómetros en coche.
This week I have traveled more than 2000 kilometers by car. (still travelling)
Nevertheless, generally speaking, people don’t pay that much attention to the aforementioned differences and will just choose one of the two tenses.
The biggest part of Latin America prefers to just use the preterite, whereas in the Andean region the present perfect is preferred.
Have a look at some examples with triggers words such as “hoy“, “nunca“, “esta mañana/semana“, and “siempre” that refer to the preterite.
Hoy no me maquillé, me levanté muy tarde.
I didn’t wear makeup today, I got up too late
Esta semana recorrí más de 2000 kilómetros en coche.
This week I have traveled/ traveled more than 2000 kilometers by car. (no longer travelling)
In European Spanish, those trigger words would actually refer to the present perfect, but in Latin American Spanish it is the preterite.
Example Sentences on Preterite versus Present Perfect
This section of the lesson on preterite versus present perfect is about seeing the tenses used in sentences.
This is valuable because you can improve your understanding of preterite versus present perfect through examples.
Este mes fuimos varias veces a la playa.
This month we went to the beach several times.
¿Viste la lluvia de estrellas esta noche?
Did you see the star shower last night?
Hoy nos cruzamos con tu hermano cerca del mercado.
Today we ran into your brother near the market.
Esta mañana he desayunado con mi prima Gloria, a quien hacía mucho que no veía.
This morning I had breakfast with my cousin Gloria, whom I had not seen for a long time.
Esta semana he recorrido más de 2000 kilómetros en coche.
This week I have traveled more than 2000 kilometers by car. (still travelling)
Hoy no me maquillé, me levanté muy tarde.
I didn’t wear makeup today, I got up too late
Esta semana recorrí más de 2000 kilómetros en coche.
This week I have traveled/ traveled more than 2000 kilometers by car. (no longer travelling)
Quiz Yourself on Preterite versus Present Perfect
At the end of every lesson you can do a small quiz.
You will see the sentences of the previous chapter.
You will either need to fill in the blanks, choose the correct multiple choice option, or both.
Once you are done the correct answer will be shown.
You can redo the quiz as many times as you want!
How to Practice With Flashcards for This Lesson
Using flashcards is an absolute necessity when it comes to learning a language!
It is the best way to memorize what you learn, you can personalize your progression because it adapts to your actions, and all flashcards have audio to improve your hearing and pronunciation.
Please read our article on how to learn a new language for more information on flashcards and the best way to learn a new language.
There are two ways to practice with Flashcards for this lesson.
- Anki
- The Flashcards in our Courses
Anki is a free software with which you can create and practice flashcards.
After you have downloaded Anki for free, you can get our Spanish A2 Anki Deck.
This Anki Deck contains 3,568 flashcards with which you can practice absolutely everything for Spanish A2.
All the flashcards have text, images, explanations, and audio.
You can also use our courses that have flashcards integrated alongside lessons with audio, quizzes and much more!
However, I am sure you are wondering, what are your courses, and why should I take them?
The Courses of Language Atlas
Have you ever wondered what the best way is to learn a new language?
I have been learning languages for over 20+ years and I was always frustrated with books, courses, and classes that I had tried.
It never really seemed to work for me.
I wanted to learn a language in the most effective and efficient way, and there was nothing out there for me.
So I thought, “why not make something myself?“.
Using my experience and by doing research I created Language Atlas, a platform where people can learn French and Spanish in the most effective and efficient way.
I created free lessons and quizzes so that there would always be an easy and accessible way for people to learn or brush up on their language skills.
However, I also created courses that are much more comprehensive and in-depth.
These courses are easy to follow, clear, and allow you to become fluent in the most effective and efficient way.
The courses of Language Atlas have:
- 800+ Lessons with audio
- 800+ Quizzes
- 10,000 Flashcards with explanations, images, and audio
- A gamified way of learning a new language
- A vibrant community (including support from me)
You can register for free and try the French A0/A1 and Spanish A0/A1 Courses for free!
This includes over 60 lessons and quizzes, 500 flashcards that adapt to how you learn, and access to the community (including support from me).
All you have to do is study 30 minutes a day and you will be fluent in no time!
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