Pretérito Perfeito Composto do Indicativo (Present Perfect Indicative)
The Pretérito Perfeito Composto do Indicativo is used to describe actions that began in the past and continue into the present, or actions that have occurred repeatedly up until now.
Formation
This tense is formed using the auxiliary verb ter (to have) in the present indicative, followed by the past participle of the main verb.
The structure is the same for -ar, -er, and -ir verbs.
| Auxiliary | Example Verb | Eu form | Nós form |
|---|---|---|---|
| ter + Participle | falar (to speak) | eu tenho falado | nós temos falado |
| ter + Participle | comer (to eat) | eu tenho comido | nós temos comido |
| ter + Participle | partir (to leave) | eu tenho partido | nós temos partido |
Usage
- Actions continuing into the present
- Eu tenho estudado todos os dias. (I have been studying every day.)
- Repeated or habitual actions up to now
- Eles têm visitado a família frequentemente. (They have visited the family frequently.)
Differences Between Brazilian and European Portuguese
- In Brazilian Portuguese (BP), this tense often emphasizes ongoing, continuous actions or habits extending from the past into the present.
- In European Portuguese (EP), it usually indicates that an action has occurred several times up to now, rather than being continuous.
- EP often prefers the Present Continuous (e.g., tenho estado a estudar) for ongoing actions.
Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs follow the same auxiliary + participle structure but may have irregular past participles.
| Verb | Past Participle | Example (Eu form) |
|---|---|---|
| fazer (to do/make) | feito | eu tenho feito |
| ver (to see) | visto | eu tenho visto |
| escrever (to write) | escrito | eu tenho escrito |
| abrir (to open) | aberto | eu tenho aberto |
Note: Memorize common irregular past participles, as they are frequently used in this tense.
Summary
- Name: Pretérito Perfeito Composto do Indicativo
- Meaning: Describes repeated actions or ongoing situations from the past into the present.
- Structure: ter (present indicative) + past participle
Examples
- Eu tenho trabalhado muito. (I have been working a lot.)
- Eles têm viajado bastante. (They have traveled a lot.)
