Cuando usen 'ha'?

Question

Hi, I was was wondering if anyone can explain to me when to use the word "ha" before a verb? Such as "ha escrito"? I guess I am just not really clear on what it means and when to use it. Thank You!

Answer 1

You use ha whenever you use one of the "perfect tenses". Haber literally means to have. Not to have something like tener, but for instance:

I have walked to school.
Yo he caminado a la escuela.

Perfect tense is used when reflecting on something on the past. Haber doesn't necessarily need to be in the present tense either. Habré, Había, and Habría are common also.

Answer 2

Can you say "ha estuvo", like has been, or would it just be era?

For instance: Nueva York ha estuvo el epicentro de la cultura.

Thank you for your help!

Lorinda

Answer 3

okay, thanks!

Answer 4

so past perfect is like an on-going past, correct? And estuvo is more something that happened one time in the past'

Answer 5

Can I cut in, please? Will someone translate the two above sentences?
1. Nueva York ha estado en el epicentro de la cultura
2. Nueva York hubo estado en el epicentro de la cultura

thanks!

Answer 6

thanks!

Answer 7

I would say "Nueva York ha sido el epicetro de la cultura"

Answer 8

number 2 is not proper. People could understand you but grammatically is not correct.
You could say Nueva York habia estado en el epicentro de la cultura or
Nueva York habia sido el epicentro de la cultura