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A2.2 · Week 3About 60 minutes · Audio throughout

What's Happened Today?

¿Qué ha pasado hoy?

Choosing between the present perfect for today, this week and recent news, and the preterite for finished time, the way Spain does it.

After this lesson, you'll be able to

  • Talk about what you have done today, this week and this year (Hoy he trabajado mucho. Este año he aprendido a nadar.)
  • Choose the present perfect or the preterite from the time word (esta semana he ido... / la semana pasada fui...)
  • Give news and react to it (¿Te has enterado? Han abierto un restaurante nuevo. ¡No me digas!)
  • Recognise the Latin American preterite for today's events (Hoy comí... in Mexico, Hoy he comido... in Spain)
Stage 2
Week 3 of 12

Grammar focus

Essential grammar for this lesson with examples.

Grammar point 1 of 6

Two past tenses: open time and finished time

You now know two ways to talk about the past:

1. The preterite (pretérito indefinido): comí, hablé, fui
2. The present perfect (pretérito perfecto): he comido, he hablado, he ido

Last week you used the present perfect for experiences, with no time given. This week the question is when. In Spain the rule is simple: if the time you are talking about is not over yet (today, this week, this year), use the present perfect. If it is over (yesterday, last week, in 2020), use the preterite.

Examples

Hoy he comido paella.I had paella today. (today isn't over)
Ayer comí paella.I had paella yesterday. (yesterday is over)
Esta semana he trabajado mucho.I've worked a lot this week. (the week isn't over)
La semana pasada trabajé mucho.I worked a lot last week. (that week is over)
Tip

English doesn't always match. "I got to work late this morning" uses the English past, but in Spain you say "Esta mañana he llegado tarde", because this morning is part of today. Choose the Spanish tense from the time, not from the English.

Grammar point 2 of 6

Time words for the present perfect

These time words all describe a period that includes now. In Spain they go with the present perfect.

Time words for the present perfect
SpanishEnglish
hoytoday
esta mañanathis morning
esta tardethis afternoon
esta semanathis week
este mesthis month
este añothis year
últimamentelately
hasta ahoraso far

Examples

Hoy he tenido tres reuniones.I've had three meetings today.
Esta mañana he ido al médico.I went to the doctor's this morning.
Este mes hemos ahorrado mucho dinero.We've saved a lot of money this month.
Últimamente he dormido muy mal.I've been sleeping very badly lately.
Tip

Esta mañana takes the present perfect even when the morning is over, because it is still today. Hace un rato (a little while ago) and hace poco (not long ago) can go with either tense: "Hace un rato he hablado con ella" and "Hace poco vi a Carmen" are both normal in Spain.

Grammar point 3 of 6

Time words for the preterite

These time words describe a period that is over. They go with the preterite, which you have used since A1.

Time words for the preterite
SpanishEnglish
ayeryesterday
anochelast night
anteayerthe day before yesterday
la semana pasadalast week
el mes pasadolast month
el año pasadolast year
en 2023in 2023
hace dos díastwo days ago

Examples

Ayer fui al cine.I went to the cinema yesterday.
La semana pasada visitamos a mis padres.We visited my parents last week.
En 2023 viajé a Colombia.I travelled to Colombia in 2023.
Anoche no dormí bien.I didn't sleep well last night.
Tip

A quick test: este, esta or hoy in the time word means the present perfect. Pasado or pasada, ayer, anoche or hace + days, weeks or years (hace tres días) means the preterite.

Grammar point 4 of 6

News and things that have just happened

Often there is no time word at all. Then the present perfect gives news: something that has just happened and matters now. As soon as you place it in a finished time (ayer, el sábado), or tell it as a finished story, you switch to the preterite.

Examples

¡He perdido las llaves!I've lost my keys! (I still haven't got them)
Perdí las llaves el sábado, pero ya tengo otras.I lost my keys on Saturday, but I've got new ones now.
Ha llegado tu paquete.Your parcel has arrived. (news)
El paquete llegó el martes.The parcel arrived on Tuesday. (a finished moment)
¿Te has enterado? ¡Ha ganado España!Have you heard? Spain have won!
Tip

Listen to the news on Spanish radio or TV: today's stories are told in the present perfect ("El Gobierno ha anunciado hoy..."), and anything from yesterday or before switches to the preterite ("El accidente ocurrió ayer a las ocho").

Grammar point 5 of 6

Spain and Latin America

Everything above is how Spain uses the two tenses. In most of Latin America, people use the preterite for today too: "Hoy comí paella". Both are correct; it is a regional difference, not a mistake.

You met "¿Qué hiciste este año?" in A2 Stage 1. That is the normal question in Mexico or Colombia. In Spain you would usually hear "¿Qué has hecho este año?", because this year isn't over.

Examples

Hoy he comido paella.I had paella today. (Spain)
Hoy comí paella.I had paella today. (most of Latin America)
¿Qué has hecho este año?What have you done this year? (Spain)
¿Qué hiciste este año?What did you do this year? (most of Latin America)
Regional note

Mexico and most of Latin America still use the present perfect for experiences and "not yet": "¿Has estado alguna vez en Perú?" and "Todavía no he comido" sound natural in Mexico too, so last week's Spanish works everywhere. Inside Spain, people in Galicia, Asturias and the Canary Islands also use the preterite more. In this course's dialogues, Ana is from Mexico, so you will sometimes hear her use the preterite where Pablo uses the present perfect.

Grammar point 6 of 6

Putting it together

When you catch up with a friend, you mix both tenses all the time: the present perfect for today and this week, the preterite for yesterday and before.

Which tense?
Time wordEnglishTenseExample
hoytodayPresent perfectHoy he trabajado mucho.
este mesthis monthPresent perfectEste mes hemos ahorrado dinero.
últimamentelatelyPresent perfectÚltimamente he dormido mal.
ayeryesterdayPreteriteAyer fui al médico.
la semana pasadalast weekPreteriteLa semana pasada comimos fuera.
en 2024in 2024PreteriteEn 2024 viajé a Perú.

Examples

Hoy he tenido un día muy ocupado, pero ayer no hice nada.I've had a very busy day today, but yesterday I did nothing.
Esta semana he empezado un curso nuevo. La semana pasada terminé el anterior.I've started a new course this week. I finished the last one last week.
¿Has leído las noticias hoy? Ayer salió un artículo muy interesante.Have you read the news today? A really interesting article came out yesterday.
Últimamente el barrio ha cambiado mucho. El año pasado abrieron tres tiendas nuevas.The neighbourhood has changed a lot lately. Three new shops opened last year.
Tip

Contrasts like "Este año he aprendido mucho, pero el año pasado no estudié nada" are very natural. If you can say both halves, you have understood this week.

Conversation

Conversation example

It's Monday lunchtime in Madrid. Ana and Pablo meet near the hospital where Ana works and catch up on their morning. Ana is from Mexico, so listen for where she uses the preterite and Pablo uses the present perfect.

  1. Ana¡Hola, Pablo! ¿Qué tal tu lunes? ¿Qué hiciste esta mañana?Hi, Pablo! How's your Monday? What did you do this morning?
  2. PabloPues hoy he tenido una mañana horrible. He llegado tarde al trabajo y mi jefe se ha enfadado.Well, I've had a horrible morning today. I got to work late and my boss got cross.
  3. Ana¡Vaya! ¿Y por qué llegaste tarde?Oh dear! And why were you late?
  4. PabloPorque anoche no dormí bien. Fui a un concierto con unos compañeros y me acosté a las dos.Because I didn't sleep well last night. I went to a concert with some colleagues and went to bed at two.
  5. Ana¡A las dos! Pues yo tuve una mañana muy intensa. Vi a diez pacientes.At two! Well, I had a really busy morning. I saw ten patients.
  6. Pablo¿Diez? ¡Qué barbaridad! Oye, hablas como una mexicana. Aquí decimos «he tenido» y «he visto».Ten? That's crazy! Hey, you talk like a Mexican. Here we say "he tenido" and "he visto".
  7. Ana¡Es que soy mexicana! En México usamos más el pretérito. Pero tienes razón: hoy he visto a diez pacientes.Well, I am Mexican! In Mexico we use the preterite more. But you're right: today I've seen ten patients.
  8. Pablo¡Perfecto! ¿Y has comido algo hoy?Perfect! And have you eaten anything today?
  9. AnaTodavía no. ¡Por eso tengo tanta hambre! Oye, ¿has leído las noticias hoy?Not yet. That's why I'm so hungry! Hey, have you read the news today?
  10. PabloSí, esta mañana he leído que han abierto un restaurante mexicano nuevo aquí cerca.Yes, I read this morning that they've opened a new Mexican restaurant near here.
  11. Ana¡No me digas! La semana pasada busqué un buen restaurante mexicano y no encontré ninguno. ¿Vamos ahora?You're joking! Last week I looked for a good Mexican restaurant and didn't find one. Shall we go now?
  12. Pablo¡Vamos! Al final, el día ha mejorado mucho.Let's go! In the end, the day has got a lot better.

Want to learn more?

Vocabulary

Key words and phrases for this lesson.

Daily updates and news

  • las noticiasthe news
  • la noticiathe piece of news
  • el cambiothe change
  • pasarto happen
  • enterarse deto find out about / to hear about¿Te has enterado? = Have you heard?
  • notarto notice
  • cambiarto change
  • mejorarto improve / to get better
  • empeorarto get worse
  • anunciarto announce
  • abrirto openIrregular participle: abierto
  • cerrarto close

Time words: present perfect

  • hoytoday
  • esta mañanathis morning
  • esta tardethis afternoon
  • esta semanathis week
  • este mesthis month
  • este añothis year
  • últimamentelately
  • recientementerecentlyGoes with either tense
  • hasta ahoraso far
  • hace poconot long agoGoes with either tense

Time words: preterite

  • ayeryesterday
  • anochelast night
  • anteayerthe day before yesterday
  • la semana pasadalast week
  • el mes pasadolast month
  • el año pasadolast year

Giving and reacting to news

  • ¿Te has enterado?Have you heard?
  • ¿Sabes qué?Guess what?
  • ¿Qué ha pasado?What's happened?
  • ¡No me digas!You're joking! / Really?
  • ¿En serio?Seriously?
  • ¡Qué fuerte!No way! / Wow!Informal, very common in Spain
  • ¡Qué bien!Great!
  • ¡Qué pena!What a shame!

Practice

Test your understanding with these exercises.

Exercise 1 of 5 · Multiple choice

Choose the tense people would use in Spain. Look at the time word first.

  1. 1. Esta mañana (yo) _____ un café con leche.

  2. 2. Anoche (yo) _____ una película muy buena.

  3. 3. Hoy (yo) _____ muy temprano.

  4. 4. La semana pasada (yo) _____ a mis abuelos.

  5. 5. En 2022 mis padres _____ a Japón.

  6. 6. Este año (nosotros) _____ dos veces a Italia.

Exercise 2 of 5 · Fill in the blanks

Write the present perfect or the preterite, as people say it in Spain. The time word tells you which.

  1. Hoy tres correos. (escribir, yo)
  2. Ayer al dentista. (ir, yo)
  3. Esta semana nosotros mucho. (trabajar)
  4. El año pasado ellos a Madrid. (viajar)
  5. Últimamente muchos cambios en el barrio. (notar, yo)
  6. Anteayer Ana a su hermano Diego. (llamar)
  7. Este año vosotros mucho español. (aprender)
Exercise 3 of 5 · Fill in the blanks

Two friends are catching up. Complete each line with the present perfect or the preterite, as people say it in Spain.

  1. A: ¿Qué hoy? (hacer, tú)
  2. B: Esta mañana al gimnasio. (ir, yo)
  3. A: ¿Y ayer? ¿Qué por la tarde? (hacer, tú)
  4. B: Ayer con mi hermana en el centro. (quedar, yo)
  5. B: ¡Y este mes al cine tres veces! (ir, yo)
Exercise 4 of 5 · Multiple choice

Giving news and reacting to it. Choose the best option.

  1. 1. _____ ¡Han abierto un restaurante mexicano aquí cerca!

  2. 2. Mi hermano ha encontrado trabajo. - _____

  3. 3. El restaurante de la esquina ha cerrado. - _____ Me encantaba.

  4. 4. Ayer _____ en el periódico que van a abrir un parque nuevo.

  5. 5. Últimamente el barrio _____ mucho.

Exercise 5 of 5 · Reading

Read Pablo's Friday message to his sister Carmen and answer the questions:

Lectura

¡Hola, Carmen! ¡Qué semana! Esta semana he trabajado muchísimo: hemos terminado el proyecto del puente y mi jefe por fin está contento. Además, he empezado a ir al gimnasio. La semana pasada no fui ni un día, pero esta semana he ido tres veces.

Hoy he vuelto con Ana al restaurante mexicano que han abierto cerca de su hospital. Ana dice que los tacos son como los de su abuela en Guadalajara.

¿Y vosotros? ¿Qué tal tu hijo en la universidad? El mes pasado me dijo que los exámenes eran muy difíciles. ¿Ya le han dado las notas?

Para este fin de semana todavía no he hecho planes. ¿Comemos juntos el domingo?

Un abrazo,

Pablo

  1. 1. ¿Cuántas veces ha ido Pablo al gimnasio esta semana?

  2. 2. ¿Cuándo no fue Pablo ni un día al gimnasio?

  3. 3. ¿Con quién ha comido Pablo hoy?

  4. 4. ¿Qué ha terminado Pablo esta semana?

  5. 5. ¿Ha hecho planes Pablo para el fin de semana?

Listening practice

ConversationElementaryElenaCarlos

Las noticias del barrio

News from the Neighbourhood

Tip: If you need help, review the questions first, use the slow speed option, and check the transcript.

0:00 / 0:00
ShowHide Transcript
  1. CarlosHola, Elena. ¿Qué tal con tu hermana? ¿Qué habéis hecho hoy?Hi, Elena. How's it going with your sister? What have you done today?
  2. Elena¡Muchas cosas! Esta mañana hemos ido al Retiro y luego hemos comprado el regalo para mi madre. Lucía llegó hace una semana y ya ha visto medio Madrid.Lots of things! This morning we went to the Retiro and then we bought the present for my mother. Lucía arrived a week ago and she's already seen half of Madrid.
  3. Carlos¡Qué bien! Oye, ¿te has enterado? Han abierto el parque nuevo de tu barrio.Great! Hey, have you heard? They've opened the new park in your neighbourhood.
  4. ElenaSí, lo he leído esta mañana. El año pasado cerraron el parque viejo para renovarlo, ¿no?Yes, I read it this morning. Last year they closed the old park to renovate it, didn't they?
  5. CarlosExacto. La gente se quejó mucho, pero ahora el alcalde ha dicho que es el parque más grande del distrito.Exactly. People complained a lot, but now the mayor has said it's the biggest park in the district.
  6. ElenaMi vecina Rosa ya ha ido y dice que es precioso. Han puesto árboles nuevos y una zona de juegos para niños.My neighbour Rosa has already been and she says it's lovely. They've put in new trees and a children's play area.
  7. CarlosAdemás, el barrio ha cambiado mucho últimamente. La semana pasada abrieron dos cafeterías nuevas en tu calle.And the neighbourhood has changed a lot lately. Two new cafés opened in your street last week.
  8. ElenaPor cierto, Lucía se ríe de mí. Dice que ahora hablo como una madrileña.By the way, Lucía teases me. She says I talk like someone from Madrid now.
  9. Carlos¿En serio? ¿Por qué?Seriously? Why?
  10. ElenaPorque en Bogotá decimos «¿Qué hiciste hoy?», y yo ahora digo «¿Qué has hecho hoy?». ¿Vamos los tres al parque este fin de semana?Because in Bogotá we say "¿Qué hiciste hoy?", and now I say "¿Qué has hecho hoy?". Shall the three of us go to the park this weekend?

Comprehension questions

Answer all 5 questions based on the conversation.

  1. Question 1

    ¿Qué han hecho Elena y Lucía esta mañana?

    What have Elena and Lucía done this morning?

  2. Question 2

    ¿Cuándo llegó Lucía a Madrid?

    When did Lucía arrive in Madrid?

  3. Question 3

    ¿Qué pasó el año pasado?

    What happened last year?

  4. Question 4

    ¿Quién ha ido ya al parque nuevo?

    Who has already been to the new park?

  5. Question 5

    En Bogotá dicen «¿Qué has hecho hoy?».

    In Bogotá they say "¿Qué has hecho hoy?".

Before your next lesson

Review materials

Review lesson vocabulary

Test yourself on this week's vocabulary with interactive flashcards.

Practise this week

  • Write 5 sentences about what you have done today (Hoy he...) and 5 about what you did yesterday (Ayer...)
  • Sort these time words into present perfect or preterite: hoy, ayer, esta semana, la semana pasada, últimamente, en 2024, anoche, este año
  • Tell a friend a piece of news with ¿Te has enterado? and react to theirs with ¡No me digas! or ¡Qué pena!
  • Listen to a news bulletin from Spain and note three verbs in the present perfect

Homework

  • Write a diary entry for today with the present perfect (Hoy he...), then add three sentences about yesterday with the preterite (Ayer...)
  • Write a short message to a friend like Pablo's: what you have done this week, one thing you did last week, and one piece of news
  • Write "¿Qué has hecho este año?" at the top of a page and answer it in 6 sentences. Then write how someone from Mexico might ask the same question

Extra practice

Reinforce what you learned this week with these exercises from our site:

1 more practice link
Coming Up Next

Next week you'll learn how to give advice and talk about obligation: "Debes descansar más", "Hay que dormir ocho horas", "Es importante beber agua", and the polite "deberías" (you should).

Up next · A2.2 Week 4
You Should...
Coming next

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