Auxiliary verbs in Spanish are helper verbs used to form compound tenses. The two main auxiliaries are haber (to have) and estar (to be). Haber is used to create perfect tenses, while estar is used in forming the progressive (continuous) tenses.
Haber: The Auxiliary for Perfect Tenses
Haber is the most important auxiliary verb in Spanish. It never stands alone in compound tenses; instead, it helps form perfect tenses by being conjugated in the appropriate tense, followed by a past participle (e.g., comido, vivido):
- Perfect Tense (present perfect):
- He hablado — I have spoken
- Has comido — You have eaten
- Pluscuamperfecto (past perfect):
- Había salido — I had left
- Futuro Perfecto (future perfect):
- Habré terminado — I will have finished
Translate: I will have finished the work by tomorrow.
Habré terminado el trabajo para mañana.
"Habré terminado" uses the futuro perfecto tense (future of haber + past participle) to express a completed action expected before a future time.
Translate: I have eaten the apple.
He comido la manzana.
"He comido la manzana" is correct because 'haber' (he) is conjugated in the present perfect tense and followed by the past participle "comido" to express "I have eaten."
Estar: The Auxiliary for Progressive Tenses
Estar is used with the gerund (-ando, -iendo) to form progressive (continuous) tenses, expressing ongoing actions.
- Estoy estudiando — I am studying
- Estaba trabajando — I was working
- Estaré leyendo — I will be reading
- Estuvo durmiendo — He/she was sleeping (specific occasion)
Estar* is always conjugated for tense and subject, followed by a gerund.
Haber vs. Estar: Different Roles
| Aspect | Haber | Estar |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Forms perfect tenses (completed actions) | Forms progressive tenses (ongoing actions) |
| Followed by | Past participle (e.g., comido, vivido) | Gerund (e.g., comiendo, viviendo) |
| Example | He leído el libro — I have read the book | Estoy leyendo el libro — I am reading the book |
Other Auxiliary-Like Constructions
While haber and estar are the main auxiliaries in Spanish, some other verbs function as helpers in specific contexts:
- Ir + a + infinitive — near future
- Voy a salir — I am going to leave
- Tener + que + infinitive — obligation
- Tengo que estudiar — I have to study
- Deber + infinitive — should / must
- Debo llamar — I should call
Note that these are not true auxiliaries conjugated with another verb form, but rather modal or periphrastic constructions.
Summary
- Haber + past participle = perfect tenses (completed actions)
- Estar + gerund = progressive tenses (ongoing actions)
- Other verbs like ir, tener, and deber combine with infinitives for meaning but are not strict auxiliaries
- Helper verbs do not express meaning on their own; they depend on a main verb form to complete the idea
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
