Use of ya in Spanish with the present perfect tense (El Pretérito Perfecto)

Written by qualified Spanish expert Silvia Piriz BA
Last updated: 2023-01-03
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Note that this is a Europe focused lesson. Your active focus is Latin America.

The Spanish "ya"

In this lesson we will explain the use of  "ya" in Spanish with El Pretérito Perfecto

ya = already


Read and listen to these examples:

Ya he vuelto de Grecia.I have already returned from Greece.

Aimar ya ha entendido la lección.Aimar has already understood the lesson.

Nosotros ya hemos comprado las entradas para el musical.We've already bought the tickets for the musical.

Ustedes ya han dormido lo suficiente por hoy.You have already slept enough for today.

The position of ya (already) should be either before the verb or after the verb but not between the auxiliary haber and the participle.

Have a look:

Nosotros ya hemos comprado las entradas para el musical.
Nosotros hemos comprado ya las entradas para el musical.
Nosotros hemos ya comprado las entradas para el musical.
We have already bought the tickets for the musical.
See also El Pretérito Perfecto

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Examples and resources

Nosotros hemos comprado ya las entradas para el musical.We have already bought the tickets for the musical.
Ya he vuelto de Grecia.I have already returned from Greece.
Aimar ya ha entendido la lección.Aimar has already understood the lesson.
Nosotros ya hemos comprado las entradas para el musical.We've already bought the tickets for the musical.
Ustedes ya han dormido lo suficiente por hoy.You have already slept enough for today.
Thinking...