Spanish Present perfect

Question

Hello, could you tell me what is the difference between those sentences: 1. He visto la pelicula 2. Vi la pelicula

I know that the 1st is the present perfect, and the 2nd is the past simple. But could you tell me why they are not interchangeable? I was taught to use the perfect tense when: 1. The situation took place very recently (Ohh, he descansado la pierna! Necesito ayuda!) 2. We are talking about our live expiriences But is it always true?

Thanks

Hi Matty. Now can you help us by adding your language proficiency to your profile, please. It does make a huge difference, especially when learning Spanish. - rac1, Jul 22, 2016

Answer 1

He visto la película= I have seen the movie

Vi la película= I saw the movie

In English they also seem somewhat similar, both seem on the surface to convey the same bit of information. The tenses have similar grammatical uses between English and Spanish.

Technically, the present perfect brings something from the past to here and now- I have seen the movie three times (so far, as of now).

The simple past leaves it a done deal. I saw the movie three times. End of story, that's that.

If you simply use the same in Spanish that you use in English, you will fall within the range of Spanish variation. It is mostly what I do and no one complains.

That being said, from what I understand- in Spain they use the perfect more, and often for completed, simple, done deals from the same day, and in Latin America they use the simple past much more, for these same types of situation.

This is fairly subjective and complex, so wait also for other opinions.

I'll second that. :) - Daniela2041, Jul 22, 2016

I'm chiliean and we do use a lot the present perfect. The thing is that we just use it but few people really know the nuances regarding sentences like "He visto la película / Vi la película." - Oshnaj, Jul 25, 2016

Answer 2

I agree with Bosquederoble and in addition present perfect leaves open the possibility of the action happening again while simple past does not - both Spanish and English.

I don't think so, Julián. "Julio got drunk las night." And I if I know Julio, he will get drunk again tonight also." This also works well in Spanish. - Daniela2041, Jul 23, 2016

I like that Julio!! He needs to come to New Orleans! - Winkfish, Jul 23, 2016

Dani, in your scenario Julio gets drunk again - a new action but "Julio has lived in NY City 5 years" - maybe he still lives there so the action continues - 005faa61, Jul 23, 2016

And he "has gotten" drunk many times. Se ha emborrachado muchas veces. Se emborrachó anoche, y se va a emborrachar mañana tambien. Siempre anda bien pedo. :) - Daniela2041, Jul 23, 2016

Answer 3

Hello Matty,

Welcome to the Spanish Dict foum

My native Spanish teacher from Spain has created some teaching material to cover these two verbs which I am sure she will not mind me sharing!: Please be aware that Spanish is her first language, not English so her grammar is not always correct but the information is accurate::

PRETÉRITO PERFECTO COMPUESTO DE INDICATIVO This time is very similar to the Present perfect in English, but there are some differences and sometimes Present perfect in English doesn’t match with Pretérito perfecto compuesto in Spanish, so we can’t translate literally. For this reason, we have to know the different uses that this tense have in Spanish. 1. Denotes an action or a state of things prior to when we talk, linked to the present. It’s used to refer to actions recently completed, ie, the action is finished but was done in a very close when talking time. (very close to the time when you were talking about it) Ex: Hoy he comido Spaguettis. Today I’ve eaten Spaquetti. The action, “to eat”, is finished, but the time when you talk, “Today”, is not finished. The action is completed but the day not yet. Ex: Esta semana he recibido dos clases de español. This week I received two Spanish classes. The action “to receive the Spanish classes,” is finished, but the time when you talk “this week” is not completed. The action is finished but the week not yet. Ex: He ido a la playa cinco veces este año. I went to the beach five times this year. The action, “to go,” is completed; but the time when you talk “this year” is not finished. The action is finished but the year not yet. 2. This tense is also used to refer to past actions that they have consequences in the present. Ex: He comido unas ostras que me han causado dolor de estómago. I've eaten oysters that they have caused me stomach pain. Now (present), I have stomach pain (consecuence) because I ate oysters (past action

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PRETÉRITO PERFECTO SIMPLE DE INDICATIVO USES: - To refer events that happen in a story. Ex: Juan Angulo cantó en la Universidad y la policía le arrestó. - Talking about actions that happened at a specific point and time. Ex: En 1968 el Gobierno prohibió las canciones de Juan Angulo. - Refer to actions that are considered complete and finished from the point of view of the speaker, although at the time these actions happen repeatedly. Ex: Juan Angulo vendió muchos discos en los años 60.

------ ------- ---------- ------------------ -------------------- -------------- Hopefully the examples clarify for you the points she makes

I hope this helps

¡Me gusta la explicación de tu maestra y te encargo con mis saludos a ella! - 005faa61, Jul 23, 2016

Muchas gracias, Julian ...Le diré la próxima vwz que le escribo un correo electrónico; ) - FELIZ77, Jul 24, 2016

Queria decir, la próxima 'vez' - FELIZ77, Jul 24, 2016