Chapter 22: Perfect Tenses

Argentine Spanish Level B1

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🎯 CHAPTER OBJECTIVES

After completing this chapter you will be able to:

• ✅ Use "He hecho..." to express recent past actions
• ✅ Master "Había terminado..." for past completed situations
• ✅ Apply "Habré llegado..." for actions to be completed in the future
• ✅ Express "Habría comprado..." for perfect conditional situations
• ✅ Understand the position of perfect tenses on the timeline
• ✅ Use perfect tenses naturally in porteño style

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⏰ 22.1. Pretérito Perfecto Compuesto - Recent Past

The most commonly used perfect tense. Expresses "to have done" actions connected to the present.

🔧 Structure and Conjugation

FORMULA:

• HABER + Past Participle
• He/Has/Ha + -ado/-ido

HABER CONJUGATION:

📝 Past Participle Rules

REGULAR VERBS:

• -AR verbs → -ADO (hablar → hablado)
• -ER verbs → -IDO (comer → comido)
• -IR verbs → -IDO (vivir → vivido)

IMPORTANT IRREGULARS:

🌟 Daily Usage Examples

RECENT EVENTS:

• "He desayunado esta mañana" (I've had breakfast this morning)
• "Has llegado muy temprano" (You've arrived very early)
• "Ha llovido toda la noche" (It has rained all night)
• "Hemos terminado el proyecto" (We have finished the project)
• "Han abierto un nuevo local" (They have opened a new store)

EXPERIENCES:

• "He estado en Bariloche" (I have been to Bariloche)
• "¿Has probado el dulce de leche?" (Have you tried dulce de leche?)
• "Ha trabajado en muchos lugares" (He/she has worked in many places)
• "Hemos visto esa película" (We have seen that movie)
• "Han viajado por toda Argentina" (They have traveled all over Argentina)

🇦🇷 Special Argentine Uses

PORTEÑO STYLE:

• "¿Has ido a la cancha?" (Have you been to the stadium?)
• "He comido en esa parrilla" (I have eaten at that parrilla)
• "Ha cambiado mucho el barrio" (The neighborhood has changed a lot)
• "Hemos tomado mate toda la tarde" (We have been drinking mate all afternoon)
• "Han aumentado los precios" (Prices have increased)

SOCCER CULTURE:

• "He visto jugar a Maradona" (I have seen Maradona play)
• "¿Has estado en la Bombonera?" (Have you been to la Bombonera?)
• "Ha metido un golazo" (He has scored a great goal)
• "Hemos ganado el clásico" (We have won the clásico)
• "Han perdido el campeonato" (They have lost the championship)

🎭 Social Situations

FRIEND CONVERSATIONS:

• "¿Has hablado con Juan?" (Have you talked to Juan?)
• "He escuchado esa canción" (I have heard that song)
• "Ha salido con sus amigos" (He/she has gone out with friends)
• "Hemos quedado para mañana" (We have agreed to meet tomorrow)
• "Han cancelado la reunión" (They have cancelled the meeting)

FAMILY CONTEXT:

• "He llamado a mi mamá" (I have called my mom)
• "¿Has terminado la tarea?" (Have you finished homework?)
• "Ha llegado mi hermano" (My brother has arrived)
• "Hemos limpiado la casa" (We have cleaned the house)
• "Han preparado la cena" (They have prepared dinner)

📱 Modern Usage

WHATSAPP MESSAGES:

• "He llegado 📍" (I've arrived)
• "¿Has visto el mensaje?" (Have you seen the message?)
• "Ha subido fotos nuevas" (He/she has uploaded new photos)
• "Hemos decidido ir" (We have decided to go)
• "Han confirmado la cita" (They have confirmed the appointment)

SOCIAL MEDIA:

• "He subido una foto" (I have posted a photo)
• "¿Has visto mi story?" (Have you seen my story?)
• "Ha cambiado su estado" (He/she has changed status)
• "Hemos hecho live" (We have done a live stream)
• "Han compartido mi post" (They have shared my post)

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🕰️ 22.2. Pluscuamperfecto - Past Perfect

Expresses "to have done" actions prior to another moment in the past.

🔧 Structure and Conjugation

FORMULA:

• HABÍA + Past Participle
• Había/Habías/Había + -ado/-ido

HABÍA CONJUGATION:

⏱️ Usage Meanings

TEMPORAL SEQUENCE:

• "Había terminado cuando llegaste" (I had finished when you arrived)
• "Habías salido antes de que llueva" (You had left before it rained)
• "Había estudiado mucho para el examen" (I had studied a lot for the exam)
• "Habíamos comido cuando nos invitaron" (We had eaten when they invited us)

CAUSE EXPLANATION:

• "Estaba cansado porque había trabajado todo el día" (I was tired because I had worked all day)
• "No tenía hambre porque había almorzado" (I wasn't hungry because I had had lunch)
• "Estaba contento porque había aprobado" (I was happy because I had passed)

🌃 Buenos Aires Past

PORTEÑO LIFE:

• "Había vivido en San Telmo" (I had lived in San Telmo)
• "Habías trabajado en el centro" (You had worked downtown)
• "Había conocido a su mujer en una milonga" (He had met his wife at a milonga)
• "Habíamos bailado tango toda la noche" (We had danced tango all night)

NOSTALGIC STORIES:

• "Había sido diferente en los '90" (It had been different in the '90s)
• "Habías visto el viejo Buenos Aires" (You had seen old Buenos Aires)
• "Había cambiado mucho desde entonces" (It had changed a lot since then)
• "Habíamos perdido muchas cosas" (We had lost many things)

🎬 Story Narrative

DETAILED NARRATIVE:

• "Había salido de casa a las 8, había tomado el subte y había llegado tarde al trabajo"
• "Habías estudiado toda la noche pero habías olvidado llevar la calculadora"
• "Había llovido tanto que había cortado la luz en todo el barrio"

REGRET EXPRESSIONS:

• "Había querido ir pero no pude" (I had wanted to go but I couldn't)
• "Habías pensado en llamarme?" (Had you thought about calling me?)
• "Había esperado otra respuesta" (I had expected another answer)

🏠 Family Memories

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES:

• "Había jugado en esa plaza" (I had played in that square)
• "Habías aprendido a andar en bici ahí" (You had learned to ride a bike there)
• "Había ido a esa escuela" (He/she had gone to that school)
• "Habíamos pasado las vacaciones en Mar del Plata" (We had spent vacations in Mar del Plata)

FAMILY HISTORY:

• "Mi abuelo había llegado de Italia" (My grandfather had arrived from Italy)
• "Habías nacido en este hospital" (You had been born in this hospital)
• "Había conocido a mi abuela en un baile" (He had met my grandmother at a dance)

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🔮 22.3. Futuro Perfecto - Future Perfect

Expresses actions that will be completed at a specific point in the future.

🔧 Structure and Conjugation

FORMULA:

• HABRÉ + Past Participle
• Habré/Habrás/Habrá + -ado/-ido

HABRÉ CONJUGATION:

📅 Time Planning

FUTURE PLANS:

• "Habré terminado para las 6" (I will have finished by 6)
• "Habrás llegado cuando empiece" (You will have arrived when it starts)
• "Habrá estudiado antes del examen" (He/she will have studied before the exam)
• "Habremos mudado para fin de año" (We will have moved by the end of the year)

DEADLINES AND GOALS:

• "Habré ahorrado suficiente dinero" (I will have saved enough money)
• "Habrás encontrado trabajo" (You will have found a job)
• "Habrá terminado la carrera" (He/she will have finished the degree)
• "Habremos viajado a Europa" (We will have traveled to Europe)

🎯 Assumptions and Conjectures

FOR CURRENT SITUATIONS:

• "Habrá llegado ya" (He/she will have arrived by now)
• "Habrás terminado el trabajo" (You will have finished the work)
• "Habrá salido de casa" (He/she will have left home)
• "Habremos perdido el tren" (We will have missed the train)

STRONG ASSUMPTIONS:

• "Habrá sido él quien llamó" (It will have been him who called)
• "Habrás olvidado las llaves" (You will have forgotten the keys)
• "Habrá costado mucho dinero" (It will have cost a lot of money)

💼 Work Life

PROFESSIONAL GOALS:

• "Habré conseguido el ascenso" (I will have gotten the promotion)
• "Habrás terminado el proyecto" (You will have finished the project)
• "Habrá presentado la propuesta" (He/she will have presented the proposal)
• "Habremos cerrado el negocio" (We will have closed the deal)

CAREER PLANNING:

• "Habré aprendido inglés" (I will have learned English)
• "Habrás hecho contactos" (You will have made contacts)
• "Habrá ganado experiencia" (He/she will have gained experience)

🏡 Daily Life

HOUSEHOLD CHORES:

• "Habré limpiado toda la casa" (I will have cleaned the whole house)
• "Habrás hecho las compras" (You will have done the shopping)
• "Habrá preparado la cena" (He/she will have prepared dinner)
• "Habremos organizado todo" (We will have organized everything)

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES:

• "Habré visto esa película" (I will have seen that movie)
• "Habrás conocido a mis amigos" (You will have met my friends)
• "Habrá terminado la fiesta" (The party will have ended)

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🤔 22.4. Condicional Perfecto - Perfect Conditional

Expresses situations that could have happened in the past but didn't. Used for regret and alternative scenarios.

🔧 Structure and Conjugation

FORMULA:

• HABRÍA + Past Participle
• Habría/Habrías/Habría + -ado/-ido

HABRÍA CONJUGATION:

😔 Regret and Alternatives

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES:

• "Habría estudiado medicina" (I would have studied medicine)
• "Habrías comprado esa casa" (You would have bought that house)
• "Habría viajado a Europa" (He/she would have traveled to Europe)
• "Habríamos invertido en esa empresa" (We would have invested in that company)

DIFFERENT DECISIONS:

• "Habría elegido otro camino" (I would have chosen another path)
• "Habrías hecho lo mismo?" (Would you have done the same?)
• "Habría dicho la verdad" (He/she would have told the truth)
• "Habríamos quedado en casa" (We would have stayed home)

💭 Conditional Situations

USE WITH SI:

• "Si hubiera tenido dinero, habría comprado un auto" (If I had had money, I would have bought a car)
• "Si hubieras estudiado, habrías aprobado el examen" (If you had studied, you would have passed the exam)
• "Si hubiera sabido, habría venido antes" (If I had known, I would have come earlier)
• "Si hubiéramos salido temprano, habríamos llegado a tiempo" (If we had left early, we would have arrived on time)

HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS:

• "Habría sido diferente" (It would have been different)
• "Habrías estado contento" (You would have been happy)
• "Habría funcionado mejor" (It would have worked better)
• "Habríamos ganado más dinero" (We would have earned more money)

🇦🇷 Argentine Culture

SOCCER DREAMS:

• "Habría jugado en Boca" (I would have played for Boca)
• "Habrías visto a Maradona" (You would have seen Maradona)
• "Habría sido crack" (He would have been a crack player)
• "Habríamos ganado el Mundial" (We would have won the World Cup)

TANGO AND CULTURE:

• "Habría aprendido a bailar tango" (I would have learned to dance tango)
• "Habrías cantado como Gardel" (You would have sung like Gardel)
• "Habría vivido en los '40" (He/she would have lived in the '40s)
• "Habríamos ido a la milonga" (We would have gone to the milonga)

💸 Economic Situations

FINANCIAL DECISIONS:

• "Habría ahorrado en dólares" (I would have saved in dollars)
• "Habrías comprado antes de la inflación" (You would have bought before inflation)
• "Habría invertido en ladrillos" (He/she would have invested in real estate)
• "Habríamos vendido a tiempo" (We would have sold in time)

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES:

• "Habría aceptado ese trabajo" (I would have accepted that job)
• "Habrías emigrado a España" (You would have emigrated to Spain)
• "Habría terminado la carrera" (He/she would have finished the degree)

❤️ Personal Relationships

LOVE AND RELATIONSHIPS:

• "Habría sido diferente con otra persona" (It would have been different with another person)
• "Habrías encontrado a alguien mejor" (You would have found someone better)
• "Habría funcionado la relación" (The relationship would have worked)
• "Habríamos sido felices" (We would have been happy)

FAMILY DECISIONS:

• "Habría tenido más hijos" (I would have had more children)
• "Habrías vivido cerca de la familia" (You would have lived near family)
• "Habría cuidado mejor a mis padres" (I would have taken better care of my parents)

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📊 22.5. Perfect Tenses on the Timeline

Understanding the relationship between perfect tenses and their correct usage.

⏰ Timeline

PAST → PRESENT → FUTURE

PLUSCUAMPERFECTO ← PERFECTO COMPUESTO ← NOW → FUTURO PERFECTO
(Había hecho)     (He hecho)          (Now)   (Habré hecho)
                                       ↓
                              CONDICIONAL PERFECTO
                              (Habría hecho)

🔄 Transitions Between Tenses

SAME EVENT, DIFFERENT TENSES:

• PERFECT: "He terminado el trabajo" (I have finished the work)
• PLUSCUAMPERFECTO: "Había terminado el trabajo cuando llegaste" (I had finished the work when you arrived)
• FUTURE PERFECT: "Habré terminado el trabajo mañana" (I will have finished the work tomorrow)
• CONDITIONAL PERFECT: "Habría terminado el trabajo si tuviera tiempo" (I would have finished the work if I had time)

📝 Use in Narrative

COMPREHENSIVE STORY:

• "Había estudiado toda la noche (PLUSCUAMPERFECTO)"
• "He dado el examen esta mañana (PERFECTO)"
• "Habré recibido las notas mañana (FUTURO PERFECTO)"
• "Habría estudiado más si hubiera sabido (CONDICIONAL PERFECTO)"

🎯 Correct Tense Selection

PROXIMITY RULE:

• Today/this week/this month → PERFECTO COMPUESTO
• Yesterday/last week/last month → PLUSCUAMPERFECTO (with other past events)
• Tomorrow/next week → FUTURO PERFECTO
• What should have happened but didn't → CONDICIONAL PERFECTO

🌟 Porteño Usage Examples

DURING THE DAY:

• Morning: "He desayunado en el bar de la esquina"
• Noon: "Había terminado la reunión cuando me llamaste"
• Evening: "Habré llegado a casa para las 8"
• Night: "Habría salido si no lloviera"

DURING THE WEEK:

• Monday: "He empezado el proyecto"
• Wednesday: "Había avanzado mucho para el miércoles"
• Friday: "Habré terminado para el viernes"
• Weekend: "Habría terminado antes si hubiera tenido ayuda"

💼 Perfect Tenses at Work

PROJECT MANAGEMENT:

• "Hemos iniciado la primera fase" (PERFECT)
• "Habíamos planificado todo con anticipación" (PLUSCUAMPERFECTO)
• "Habremos completado el 70% para fin de mes" (FUTURE PERFECT)
• "Habríamos terminado antes con más recursos" (CONDITIONAL PERFECT)

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

• "He aprendido mucho este año" (PERFECT)
• "Había trabajado en proyectos similares" (PLUSCUAMPERFECTO)
• "Habré adquirido nueva experiencia" (FUTURE PERFECT)
• "Habría crecido más en otra empresa" (CONDITIONAL PERFECT)

🏡 Perfect Tenses in Daily Life

HOUSEHOLD CHORES:

• "He limpiado la cocina" (PERFECT)
• "Había ordenado todo antes de salir" (PLUSCUAMPERFECTO)
• "Habré terminado para cuando llegues" (FUTURE PERFECT)
• "Habría hecho más si tuviera tiempo" (CONDITIONAL PERFECT)

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES:

• "Hemos organizado una fiesta" (PERFECT)
• "Habíamos invitado a 50 personas" (PLUSCUAMPERFECTO)
• "Habremos preparado todo para el sábado" (FUTURE PERFECT)
• "Habría sido mejor en otro lugar" (CONDITIONAL PERFECT)

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🎯 COMPREHENSIVE DIALOGUES

Dialogue 1: Work Meeting

Boss: "¿Han terminado el informe?" (Have you finished the report?) Employee: "Hemos avanzado bastante, pero habríamos terminado si hubiéramos tenido más tiempo" (We've made good progress, but we would have finished if we had had more time) Boss: "¿Habrán terminado para mañana?" (Will you have finished by tomorrow?) Employee: "Sí, habré terminado todo antes de las 5" (Yes, I will have finished everything before 5) Boss: "Perfecto, había esperado tenerlo hoy, pero mañana está bien" (Perfect, I had hoped to have it today, but tomorrow is fine)

Dialogue 2: Family Planning

Mom: "¿Has pensado en las vacaciones?" (Have you thought about vacation?) Dad: "Sí, he visto algunos lugares. Habíamos hablado de ir a Bariloche" (Yes, I've seen some places. We had talked about going to Bariloche) Mom: "¿Habremos ahorrado suficiente para diciembre?" (Will we have saved enough for December?) Dad: "Habría preferido ir antes, pero diciembre está bien" (I would have preferred to go earlier, but December is fine) Mom: "Hemos decidido entonces. Habré hecho las reservas esta semana" (We've decided then. I will have made the reservations this week)

Dialogue 3: Students

Ana: "¿Has estudiado para el examen?" (Have you studied for the exam?) Luis: "Había estudiado anoche, pero habría estudiado más si hubiera sabido que era tan difícil" (I had studied last night, but I would have studied more if I had known it was so difficult) Ana: "Habré terminado de repasar para mañana" (I will have finished reviewing by tomorrow) Luis: "Hemos perdido mucho tiempo. Habríamos aprobado fácil si hubiéramos empezado antes" (We've lost a lot of time. We would have passed easily if we had started earlier)

Dialogue 4: Friends

Sofía: "¿Has visto la nueva película?" (Have you seen the new movie?) Marcos: "Había planeado ir, pero habría gastado mucho dinero" (I had planned to go, but I would have spent a lot of money) Sofía: "Habré ido este fin de semana. ¿Habrás terminado con tus cosas?" (I will have gone this weekend. Will you have finished with your things?) Marcos: "He terminado todo. Habría venido contigo si me hubieras invitado" (I've finished everything. I would have come with you if you had invited me)

Dialogue 5: Daily Life

Neighbor: "¿Ha llegado la encomienda?" (Has the package arrived?) Doorman: "Había llegado esta mañana, pero habría llegado ayer si no hubiera llovido" (It had arrived this morning, but it would have arrived yesterday if it hadn't rained) Neighbor: "Habré pasado a buscarla después. ¿Habrán traído todo?" (I will have come to pick it up later. Will they have brought everything?) Doorman: "Han traído todo. Habría subido a su departamento, pero no había encontrado a nadie" (They've brought everything. I would have gone up to your apartment, but I hadn't found anyone)