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"Presente" is a form of "presente", an adjective which is often translated as "present". "Pretérito perfecto" is a noun which is often translated as "present perfect". Learn more about the difference between "presente" and "pretérito perfecto" below.
presente(
preh
-
sehn
-
teh
)
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
adjective
a. present
Mi hermana no estuvo presente en mi boda porque estaba dando a luz.My sister was not present at my wedding because she was giving birth.
a. current
En lo que va del presente año, las ventas han aumentado un 10%.In the current year, sales have increased 10%.
a. here
¿Roberto Gómez? - ¡Presente!Roberto Gómez? - Here!
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
masculine noun
a. present
Vive en el presente y deja ir el pasado.Live in the present and let the past go.
a. present tense
No son las conjugaciones del presente que me dan problemas, son las del pretérito.It's not the present tense conjugations that give me trouble, it's the preterite.
b. present
El cuento se narra en el presente.The story is told in the present.
a. present
Le traje un presente, señor Smith. Espero que le guste.I've brought a present for you, Mr. Smith. I hope you like it.
b. gift
El embajador de India eligió un anillo de oro como presente para el presidente de Francia.The Indian ambassador chose a gold ring as a gift for the president of France.
A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
feminine noun
a.
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
no direct translation
Por la presente le comunico que ha sido aceptado en nuestra facultad.I am writing to inform you that you have been accepted as a member of our faculty.
Por medio de la presente le informo que renuncio a mi puesto como contador.I hereby inform you that I am resigning from my position as accountant.
los presentes, las presentes
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
plural noun
a. those present
La mayoría de los presentes votó a favor del nuevo presupuesto.The majority of those present voted in favor of the new budget.
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el pretérito perfecto(
preh
-
teh
-
ree
-
toh
 
pehr
-
fehk
-
toh
)
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
masculine noun
a. present perfect
El pretérito perfecto se forma con el presente del verbo "haber" y el participio del verbo conjugado; por ejemplo, "he oído" ("I've heard").The present perfect is formed with the present of the verb "haber" and the past participle of the conjugated verb, for instance "he oído" ("I've heard").
b. simple past
El pretérito perfecto simple indica que la acción expresada por el verbo acabó en un momento del pasado.The simple past indicates that the action expressed by the verb finished at a point in the past.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Media Group, Inc.