The present perfect tense is used to describe actions and events that started in the past and that are still continuing in the present. Let's take a look at how this tense is conjugated.
To Have (Present tense) plus Past Participle
Take a look at how this tense is used in the English language:
Mike has played well this season.
In this instance, the verb "has played" is conjugated in the present perfect tense. That's because it illustrates an action or event that began in the past. But it also illustrates an action or event that is continuing in the present. In other words, "this season" is not over.
You will also find that this tense s used to express an action that has commenced in the past but does not refer to a specific or concrete time. To illustrate, let's take another look at an example using this tense.
Roberto ha estudiado muy poco.
(Robert has studied very little. )
In the above phrase, the English verb "has studied" is in the present perfect to indicate that Robert studied in the past. But it is also implied that a specific and concrete time as to when this has occurred has not been determined. To increase your understanding of this tense, let's take a look at the present tense forms of the verb "haber" which is used to form the present perfect tense:
Yo he (I have) nosotros hemos (we have)
tú has (you have) ellos han (they have)
él ha (he has) ellas han (they have)
Ella ha (she has) ustedes han (you have)
Usted ha (you have)
However, keep in mind that in addition to the verb "haber" conjugated in the present tense, you will also need to include the past participle of the target verb to form the present perfect in Spanish.
Patrick Jackson is the founder of Learning Spanish Like Crazy. If you would like to learn more about the Spanish Present Perfect tense verbs, then sign up for our FREE online interactive weekly Spanish Verb Conjugation classes or get a FREE interactive demo copy of the Verbarrator. The Spanish verb conjugator that is so fun and easy that it is addictive, go here now: http://verbarrator.com/
Are you looking for some tips on how to learn Spanish quickly and easily? Is there any way to become fluent in Spanish even in six months? If you are asking yourself these questions, keep reading, because you are in the right place. In this article I'm going to show you the most effective way to learn Spanish quickly. Here it is!
Let me answer the second question first - yes, it's possible. It's even possible to become fluent in Spanish within less than 6 months. Yes, I'm serious. The key is to practice regularly and instead of studying Spanish (like studying languages in school which is the worst way to learn a language), use it in the real world, that is with native speakers.
Okay, so now you know that you can do it. Now - how to do it? Here are three simple tips.
1. Nothing will happen if you believe in...
...no pain, no gain. It's not about hard work, it's about smart work. Instead of trying to learn hundreds of useless Spanish words, learn the most common ones. Instead of trying to memorize every rule of grammar, learn it step by step while using Spanish (for example writing in a journal or to a pen pal). Identify the most important things and focus on learning them. 2. Make it natural
Don't spend time studying Spanish, spend time WITH Spanish. What do I mean by it? Well, how do you use your mother tongue? In a natural way - by speaking with your friends in it, watching movies, listening to music and so on. Why don't use Spanish in the same way? It doesn't even feel like learning when you start treating Spanish as your another language, not as a "foreign language". 3. Practice every single day
Looking for the quickest and easiest way to learn Spanish? It's simple: use it all the time (or as much as you can). How to make time to do it? You don't need to sacrifice anything, you just need to start doing everything that you can in Spanish instead of doing it in your first language.
Spanish Learning Centre Blackpool, the Original and Best Spanish Centre in Blackpool
Here you go - the most important tips on how to learn Spanish quickly and easily. I know that about 95% people won't put these tips to use after reading this article. Do you want to be in the top 5% that will become fluent in Spanish even in six months? Then follow these tips. Buena suerte and have fun while speaking fluent Spanish!
Obviously, if you have children and you wish to move to Spain, then the schooling of your children will be your most important priority.
In fact, the overall welfare of your children will probably be the deciding factor as to whether any move to Spain is actually possible and their educational needs may define where you live. Certainly it is true to say that the happiness of your children in Spain will be critical to the success of your relocation. If children are unhappy then this can place tremendous stress upon the adults within a family - to the point at which it can strain a previously good working relationship.
Fortunately, education in Spain is good, albeit that (like the UK) considerable care is required if you are to obtain the best possible results. Of course, the big difference in Spain for a child is that they will be taught in Spanish (and sometimes in a regional dialect, such as Valenciano). As few North European children speak Spanish, it makes their entry into the Spanish schools system sensitive and it can mean that it takes a while for your child to settle. That said, it is extraordinary how fast children pick up a new language and I have only ever known one child unable to learn Spanish.
Of course, timing has a huge part to play when it comes to placing a child into normal (not international) Spanish schools. Without doubt, the younger a child the easier it is for them to assimilate Spanish and to therefore get to grips with education in Spain and the academic work itself. A far greater problem is faced by older children and experience has shown that there is an age at which children find it, to all intents and purposes, impossible to both learn a new language and deal with the demands of increasingly complicated academic work. In essence, the danger time for moving a child into Spanish schools (if they speak no Spanish) is when they are around 12 - 13 years old. Earlier than that and most children will easily learn the language and be able to catch up with the academic work. Older, and it will become difficult (to impossible), for them to keep up with their peers - and not to be able to do so will be demoralising and damaging during a vulnerable time of their lives.
Education in Spain for children is compulsory from the ages of 6 to 16, with primary education lasting 6 years - followed by four years of compulsory secondary education at the end of which a Certificate of Education is received. State Spanish schools are free and normally school uniform is not worn. However, the purchase of school books is the responsibility of parents and can be quite costly (around 300 Euros per child per year). After the age of 16, children can continue with their education in Spain and go to vocational institutes or study for the academically demanding (and highly regarded) Bachillerato. The latter takes two years and is needed should a child wish to attend university.
State schools tend to be as variable as in the UK and much depends upon the precise intake area. It is therefore always wise to check very carefully the reputation of what may become your local Spanish school. Of course, there are private Spanish schools which can often be a very wise choice. These can provide a superb education in Spain within environments that are controlled, safe and that have high aspirations for their students. They provide terrific value for money compared to the cost of their UK (for example) counterparts and, if you can afford it, are well worth using for your children. Fees (2008) vary considerably but can be around 350 euros per month (10 months).
Equally, Spain has a scattering of international schools which provide, in English, a British curriculum. Oddly enough, these Spanish schools frequently have a high proportion of Spanish children, as the wealthy Spanish have a strong urge to ensure that their children are completely fluent in Spanish. They are particularly pertinant if you wish to move to Spain and your children are over the age of 12. As a parent with two children, I have been very impressed by the standard of education in Spain - and my son now is attending university having passed the Bachillerato. This has been a tremendous success (he started Spanish schooling when he was 13) and proof that the existing system of education in Spain works for foreigners!
Nick Snelling is the published author of three books on Spain including 'How to Move Safely to Spain' http://www.movesafelytospain.com. He also maintains an authoritative Blog on Spanish culture, life in Spain and moving to Spain - which you can see on http://www.nicholassnelling.com
Thinking about learning a second language? Spanish might be a good choice, especially if you live in the United States where there is an ever-growing population of Spanish speakers.
A lot people speak Spanish. In fact, it's one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. About 400 million people speak Spanish, including nearly half of the Western Hemisphere. Spanish is spoken in more than 20 countries including Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Cuba and Costa Rica.
But there are more reasons why learning Spanish is worth the effort.
First of all, Spanish is easier to learn than most other languages. The reason why is that Spanish shares many words with English. English speakers find the grammar easier than Slavic languages like Russian or Asian languages like Japanese or Mandarin. And it's easy to pronounce. While students learning English may struggle to pronounce difficult words like "pneumonia", you will have no such problem with Spanish. Spanish is a phonetic language and you pronounce the words as they are written.
Spanish is a great language for travel since it's spoken in many of the popular travel destinations like Cancun, Punta Cana, and Ibiza. Being able to speak the local language and communicate with the native population makes travel easier and provides a more fulfilling travel experience.
Did you know that learning Spanish will sharpen your mind? Learning a new language is good for the brain. You may have seen articles in the news about how older people can prevent mental aging and retain their mental acuity by learning or speaking a second language.
Speaking a second language feels good. It makes you feel smart. It makes you feel like you accomplished something valuable and important. It gives you self-confidence.
It's also a great way to make new friends. You'll meet new study partners. You'll meet teachers and tutors. You'll practice your Spanish by chatting with people by email or instant messenger or Skype.
Learning Spanish could be could for your pocketbook too. It could help you get a job. Being able to speak a second language looks good on your resume and could open doors for you in a globalized economy.
After you learn to speak Spanish, why stop there? Once you know how to speak Spanish you will find it easier to learn other Romance languages like Italian and French. The grammar and much of the vocabulary are similar. Also, Portugese will be a breeze.
When it comes to mastering the uses of POR and PARA in Spanish, there is a very simple, yet powerful approach that can help you in 95 to 98% of the cases and even more.
Rather than teaching all the uses of POR and PARA as all teachers do, I prefer to narrow down my teaching. Does that mean I am teaching "less" than I should? I don´t think so.
After all, my experience has clearly shown me that students are presented with so many rules, patterns and uses that they are not able to use them well in most cases. What do I do? I cut to the chase as I am going to show you.
When do we use PARA?
1. To express PURPOSE: Any time that in English you can use "in order to," in Spanish you must use PARA.
I work to make money (or.. in order to make money)
Trabajo PARA ganar dinero.
2. To show who the recipient of an action is:
I bought these flowers for you.
Compré estas flores PARA tí.
3. To show destination:
I am going to Spain.
Voy PARA España.
4. When I want to say BY or FOR a SPECIFIC TIME.
I need your answer by Monday.
Necesito tu respuesta PARA el lunes.
These are all the instances when PARA is used. When do you use POR? In all the other cases. Just that! Any time you want to say something and doubt whether to say por or para, just go through this checklist mentally: a) IN ORDER TO b) RECIPIENT c) DESTINATION D) SPECIFIC TIME.
If what you want to express fits any of these possibilities, then the word to use is PARA. If it doesn´t, use POR.
Simple enough, right? I challenge you to try to find and do as many exercises on the Internet as possible and see for yourself how useful and accurate this approach is! http://mld.ursinus.edu/~jarana/Ejercicios/self-check/por_para.html
Enjoy!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Julio_Foppoli
Learning Spanish is an enjoyable experience however it can take a good deal of time to achieve a good working knowledge of the language. One area of learning Spanish that often causes more problems than most and is, in part, responsible for many individuals taking the decision to quit learning the language is Spanish verb conjugation.
Verbs are a vital part of every language and being able to use them correctly makes the difference between being understood and confusing whoever you are speaking to. Spanish verbs are conjugated in such a way that they can express who is performing an action and when they are performing it in a single conjugated verb.
There are three reasons why Spanish verb conjugation is so difficult and they are: 1. There are three different groups of verbs, those that end in -ar, -er and -ir. Although, -er and -ir verbs share a lot of similarities in how they are conjugated, -ar verbs are completely different. 2. There are many different tenses, at least twelve that you will use regularly, all having their own specific formation and all of which you will need to learn. 3. Finally, just when you think it cannot get any more difficult there are irregular verbs. In Spanish, there are a large number of Spanish verbs, some books and courses state that you will only need to learn about twenty or so, but believe me when I tell you that you will need to learn many more than that during your studies.
Irregular verbs, or rather, the learning of the conjugation of irregular verbs, is the most difficult part of learning Spanish. Not only are there many highly irregular verbs that have totally unique patterns of conjugation but many of them are also used in regularly used idioms and expressions that to an English speaker make absolutely no sense at all!
So...having explained why learning Spanish verb conjugation is so difficult and why having a good working knowledge of them is so important, you may be wondering if there is an easy way to learn them?
There is only one way to learn the conjugation patterns of Spanish verbs and that is to memorize each of them which will require a lot of hard work. Ever since languages first started being studied the only way to perform this mammoth task was to continually recite each verb conjugation until they were etched into the memory, which was a long and laborious task.
As it was impossible to make this task any smaller or make the conjugations any less complicated to learn the only way to learn them more efficiently was to look at new ways of memorizing them and this is where verb training software has made a huge difference.
There are now software programs that will speed up the process of learning Spanish verb conjugation and that make the task of doing so far less arduous and much more enjoyable and if your goal is to learn Spanish as quickly and with as few hiccups as possible then verb training software is an absolute necessity.
For a detailed report on the most popular verb training software currently available check out this Verbarrator review. You can also click on Spanish verb conjugation for extra help with the conjugation of Spanish verbs.
