Past Perfect to describe experiences

Question

I am studying Latin Am Spanish and my Mexican teacher told me that preterite perfect is used to describe past experiences (even those finished in the past) AI confirms this : Visité México" is the simple past tense (preterite) and is used for actions that were completed in the past. If you're saying "I visited Mexico" as a specific event that happened, this is the way to go.

"He visitado México" is the present perfect tense and is used to talk about actions that were completed at some indefinite point in the past and have relevance to the present. If you're expressing that you've visited Mexico at some time in your life up to now, this is a good choice.

So it comes down to whether you're highlighting a specific past event (Visité) or a general experience up to now (He visitado). Got another language question? I’m here for it.

Answer

Hello there Maureen -In European Spanish, the 'Present Perfect' refers to an event which is linked to the present in some way < This is really its most important feature. However, that 'rule' does not necessarily apply in Latin America - where [according to my Grammar Book] the 'guidelines' and 'customs' vary from country to country [and indeed around Spain; e.g. this tense seems to be used less in Galicia]. In Europe, many [most?] of those occasions tend to be translated into English using the verb "have" [i.e., mirroring the Spanish original] > e.g., On holiday in Italy, striking up a conversation with somebody and comparing your experiences and recommendations - you might ask "Have you visited Florence?" ["¿Has visitado Florencia?]My Grammar book mentions an interesting exception > When a thunderstorm seems imminent, you might ask somebody who is with you: "Gracious me - Did you see that lightning display?" [rather than "... Have you seen ...?"] >> whereas in peninsular Spanish, it is more natural to ask "¿Madre mia - has visto aquel relámpogo?"