Compound Tenses

Question 1

They have been here.

Answer 1

Ellos han estado aquí.

(the present perfect tense is used to express a past action and uses the present tense of haber with the past participle)

Question 2

Maria has sung my favourite song.

Answer 2

María ha cantado mi canción favorita.

Question 3

Until now, he hasn’t answered my letter.

Answer 3

Hasta ahora él no ha contestado a mi carta.

Question 4

Have you finished the work?

(to several people)

Answer 4

¿Han empezado Uds. el trabajo?

Question 5

I have spoken with him.

Answer 5

Yo he hablado con él.

Question 6

You have never eaten with us.

Answer 6

Tú nunca has comido con nosotros.

Question 7

We have lived in the suburbs.

Answer 7

Nosotros hemos vivido en los suburbios.

Question 8

Where have you learnt it?

Answer 8

¿Dónde lo ha aprendido Ud.?

Question 9

Why have you not opened the window?

(to several people)

Answer 9

¿Por qué no han abierto Uds. la ventana?

(some past participles are irregular)

abrir

Question 10

I have covered it with a blanket.

Answer 10

Yo lo he cubierto con una manta.

cubrir

Question 11

I think they have discovered another planet.

Answer 11

Creo que ellos han descubierto otro planeta.

descubrir

Question 12

Your little dog has died.

Answer 12

Su perrito ha muerto.

morir

Question 13

I have put it in the boot of the car.

Answer 13

Yo lo he puesto en la maletera del carro.

poner

Question 14

They have not returned yet.

Answer 14

Ellos no han vuelto todavía.

volver

Question 15

But the thing is they have already left.

Answer 15

Pero es que ya han salido.

Question 16

But the thing is they have already packed the suitcases.

Answer 16

Pero es que ya han hecho las maletas.

hacer

Question 17

But the thing is they have already put the luggage in the boot.

Answer 17

Pero es que ya han puesto el equipaje en la maletera.

Question 18

But the thing is they have already visited their cousins.

Answer 18

Pero es que ya han visitado a sus primos.

Question 19

But the thing is they have already seen their colleagues.

Answer 19

Pero es que ya han visto a sus colegas.

ver

Question 20

Maria had already sung when the Gypsies danced.

Answer 20

María ya había cantado cuando los gitanos bailaron.

(the pluperfect is formed by using the imperfect tense of haber with the past participle)

Question 21

They had already eaten when I arrived.

Answer 21

Ellos ya habían comido cuando yo llegué.

Question 22

I had already finished the work when the telephone rang.

Answer 22

Yo ya había terminado el trabajo cuando sonó el teléfono.

Question 23

I had already been familiar with Europe when I went to Asia.

Answer 23

Yo ya había conocido a Europa cuando fui a Asia.

Question 24

The thieves had already left when the dog barked.

Answer 24

Los ladrones ya han salida cuando el perro ladró.

Question 25

They would have finished, but it started to rain.

Answer 25

Ellos habrían terminado pero empezó a llover.

(the conditional perfect is used to express what would have happened had something else not interfered)

Question 26

I would’ve eaten, but I wasn’t hungry.

Answer 26

Yo habría comido pero no tenía hambre.

Question 27

He would’ve lived here, but he couldn’t find an apartment.

Answer 27

Él habría vivido aquí pero no pudo encontrar apartamento.

Question 28

They would’ve asked me for it, but they didn’t see me.

Answer 28

Ellos me lo habrían pedido pero no me vieron.

Question 29

We would’ve come back yesterday, but there were no flights

Answer 29

Nosotros habríamos vuelto ayer pero no había vuelo.

haber → there is; there are

Question 30

You would’ve insisted, wouldn’t you?

(to a friend)

Answer 30

Tú habrías insistido, ¿no?

Question 31

I would’ve accompanied you, but I couldn’t.

(to a friend)

Answer 31

Yo te habría acompañado pero no pude.

Question 32

Carlos would’ve told it to me, but he didn’t know the details.

Answer 32

Carlos me lo habría dicho pero no sabía los detalles.

Question 33

I would’ve seen them, but they didn’t come.

Answer 33

Yo los habría visto pero no vinieron.

Question 34

Mum would’ve bought it for me, but she didn’t have enough money.

Answer 34

Mamá me lo habría comprado pero no tenía bastante dinero.