Spanish perfect tenses express actions that are completed (perfected) relative to a specific point in time. They all use a form of haber plus a past participle (-ado, -ido). The main perfect tenses are:
- Present Perfect (pretérito perfecto): Describes actions completed recently or with relevance to the present.
- Formula: haber (present) + participio pasado
- Example: He hablado (I have spoken)
- Past Perfect (pluscuamperfecto): Describes actions completed before another past event.
- Formula: haber (imperfect) + participio pasado
- Example: Había hablado (I had spoken)
- Future Perfect (futuro perfecto): Describes actions that will have been completed by a future time.
- Formula: haber (future) + participio pasado
- Example: Habré hablado (I will have spoken)
These tenses highlight the moment of completion in relation to “now,” “then,” or “then in the future.”