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!
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Jean-Noël has many French grammar exercises and is very enthusiastic about sharing his knowledge!
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My name is Alberto and I am 29 years old. I speak Spanish, English, French, German and Italian. As you might have seen, one of my passions is the study of foreign languages. I love learning them, studying them, and keeping permanently in touch with them.
I have been a foreign language teacher for eight years, and I have always obtained remarkably good results. I personnally love working as a language teacher. It is another opportunity of keeping studying one specific language whereas you are helping other people to learn.
In my clases I adapt myself to the needs of my student. We practice the speaking, the writing, or any other skill the student desires. We learn also grammar and vocabulary. I like to work with spread sheets of grammar and vocabulary to consolidate the grammar basis, but I also like using other ressources, such as films, books, videos, games, songs or articles from the newspaper.
I am quite patient comprehensive and kind. All the students that came to me with problems or difficulties bearing relation to the grammar have come through them with a great success after some lessons with me.
So I look forward to welcoming you all with open arms to help you discover a new language or improve your language skills.
Alberto
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Great lesson! Alberto always prepares the lessons so well that I really learn something. The material used is varied and individually tailored to what I want to practice. This is how I really enjoy my homework. The discussion of my tasks is as detailed as I would like. I've made good progress in the past few hours. Of course, punctuality is a matter of course.
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Mari is a very expert and friendly teacher. She teaches both online and in presence, single or group classes. The teaching material she has is very organized.
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I base my lessons on your preferences. Would you like to speak better? No problem, so I'll look for nice pictures or newspaper articles for you that we can talk about.
Would you like to go deeper into grammar or do you always run into the same questions? I will explain the rules in a way that you can understand them so that you will learn the German language with more fun and success.
I have a great passion for languages and people. In Switzerland I gave a course for German as a foreign language and it was a nice experience. I also gave typing lessons to adults and so have a lot of experience in classrooms.
After that I followed a training course as a trainer for adults and now have a SVEB EUROLTA Diploma. Here in Eindhoven I also work for a language school and because I really love this work, I would like to give more lessons.
Reading, writing or speaking - do you find that difficult? Then we will work together to make it easier for you!
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Corinne has a great teaching experience. She uses pictures and hole texts to practice your grammar and your speech in German. Her courses are depending by students demands and are attractive !
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Hi!
Mi nombre es Pablo (38) de Vigo en Galicia. Estoy titulado a nivel de máster con la prestigiosa universidad de Salamanca.
Ofrezco clases online a un precio reducido, facilitando el aprendizaje desde la comodidad de tu casa. Utilizo una plataforma online con excelentes recursos y materiales, además de un enfoque socio cultural en torno a la cultura inglesa, los medios de comunicación y las artes.
He vivido durante doce ańos en Bristol, Reino Unido, con una amplia cantidad de lecciones hasta la fecha. Preparación de exámenes, escribiendo ensayos y disertaciones. Mi estilo y enfoque de enseñanza es muy dinámico, lo que significa que haremos que su proceso de aprendizaje sea entretenido y actual.
Actualmente trabajo en el sector de la educación y con empresas de lenguas extranjeras, Chris Polatch Language Courses, Language Services UK, Tutor Hunt, puedo proporcionar referencias de ellos y de estudiantes anteriores.
Ofrezco a mis alumnos
* Una reunión inicial gratuita para discutir sus objetivos en el aprendizaje del español. Por ejemplo, conversación, negocios, etc. * Una evaluación para determinar sus necesidades. * Clases de español personalizadas. * Materiales de aprendizaje para usar durante las clases y en casa. * Seguimiento y asesoramiento en línea fuera del aula.
Descuentos al reservar 4 clases por adelantado y si estás contento con mis clases y decides reservar 8 lecciones por adelantado, una será gratis.
Once in a lifetime!
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Pablo is a nice teacher who has more than 10 years of experience in the field. He's been teaching different kind of students, his class are structured and the quality of the learning materials he provides is good.
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Good Day! I'm Edelyn but you can call me Teacher Ed's. I am a License Professional Teacher and a Microsoft Innovative Educator from the Philippines. I have a degree in Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English. I'm sharing my enthusiasm in Teaching English and Filipino or Tagalog Language for six years.
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Edelyn A.Thank you so much Hanna. Stay safe always :)
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Hello, my name is Marina. I am a native speaker of Spanish.
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so I have combined methods, applied strategies and fun activities to facilitate the development of pronunciation, listening and writing skills of the language.
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Marina del Valle P.Thank you Clemence. It is a pleasure for me to be part of this wonderful organization and to be able to teach about my language and culture.
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For me, languages are much more than just a way to communicate with someone else. Also, I think that my passion in this field helps me to transmit to the students the desire to keep studying and learning amazing languages like these.
Contact me and let's have a trial lesson! It's free! :)
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My teaching method is more engaging I choose a more student focused method, relaxed and fun way of teaching to engage the students and make them participate through use of props, reading materials, drawings etc.
I also like reading so if you are a book worm you will have fun in my class.
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I attended a Foreign Language High School in Italy and passed the first year at the University (foreign languages and literatures) in Udine, Italy.
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I have recently got a Cambridge English certificate (C2 level) and a certificate for teaching online from Arizona State University. I am currently studying to get a German certificate (C1 level).
I offer English tailor- made lessons for everyone, regardless of age: students and employees, housewives and workers.
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Hi!
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