# 39. Present Perfect Tense

> Source: [A Complete Guide To Every Fundamental In Spanish (The Conclusion)](https://youtube.com/watch?v=YHDZSHCt1DE&t=10912s)

The present perfect (`pretérito perfecto`) talks about what someone **has done**. It uses conjugated `haber` + a past participle, and the two pieces can never be separated.

## Key Rules
- Formula: **conjugated `haber`** + **past participle**.
- `haber`: `he, has, ha, hemos, habéis, han`.
- The past participle does **NOT** change for gender/number when used in the perfect tense — only when used as an adjective.
- `haber` + participle is **inseparable**: `no`, direct, and indirect object pronouns ALL go *before* `haber`.
- Don't confuse `haber` (auxiliary "to have done") with `tener` (main verb "to possess/have"): `Yo tengo un perro` (I have a dog) vs. `Yo he tenido muchos amigos` (I have had many friends).

## Conjugation / Pattern Tables

### `haber` (present)
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| yo | he |
| tú | has |
| él/ella | ha |
| nosotros | hemos |
| vosotros | habéis |
| ellos | han |

## Examples
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Yo he hablado. | I have spoken. |
| Tú has comido. | You have eaten. |
| Él ha leído. | He has read. |
| ¿Has leído el libro? | Have you read the book? |
| Sí, yo lo he leído. | Yes, I have read it. |
| No, yo no lo he leído. | No, I have not read it. |
| John me lo ha dicho. | John has told me it. |
| John no me lo ha dicho. | John has not told me it. |
| Yo he tenido muchos amigos. | I have had a lot of friends. |
| Nosotros hemos vivido aquí. | We have lived here. |
| Ella ha escrito una carta. | She has written a letter. |
| ¿Has visto la película? | Have you seen the movie? |

## Notes & Gotchas
- Never insert anything between `haber` and the participle.
- "I have to read" = `Yo tengo que leer` (not `haber`); "I have read" = `Yo he leído`.
- Past participles in the perfect remain in the masculine singular form (`hablado`, never `hablada/hablados`).
