Past participle vs. present perfect tense
Can someone please tell me the main difference between the past participle and the present perfect? I know they're similar but I don't understand when to use then/ how they differ from each other. Thank you!!
2 Answers
The function of the past participle in Spanish is very similar to what happens in English.
EX. Verb: to close. Past. part. closed.
Used as an adjective: The door is closed.
Used to form the present perfect: I have closed the door.
Now the above translated into Spanish.
Verb: cerrar. Past part. "cerrado"
Used as an adjective. La puerta está cerrada.
Used to form the present perfect: He cerrado la puerta.
The past participle is derived by removing the "ar" ending from verbs ending in "ar", and likewise removing the "er" and "ir" ending from those verbs ending in "er" and "ir"
Replace respectively with "ado" and "ido"
Caution: When using as an adjective before a feminine noun change "o" to "a" The following is a chart for deriving regular verb past. part. endings.
This next chart shows you how to form the present perfect with the auxiliary verb "haber"
There are several irregular forms.
ver = visto
hacer =hecho
romper = roto
poner = puesto
decir = dicho
Abrir = abierto
cubrir = cubierto
volver = vuelto.
There are a few more, I think, but these are the main ones. In English there are more than 200 of these stinking irregular participles, and I had to learn every one of them.
The main difference is that the present perfect is a tense and the past participle is not -- although it is used in forming various tenses, including the present perfect.
