Finished versus unfinished timeframes
In Spain, choosing between the present perfect (hemos conseguido) and the preterite (conseguimos) depends on the timeframe of the action.
Use the present perfect for unfinished timeframes—meaning we are still in that block of time. Look for markers like hoy (today), esta semana (this week), or este año (this year).
| This year we have achieved the objective. | Este año hemos conseguido el objetivo. |
| Has the manager signed the contract today? | ¿Ha firmado el gerente el contrato hoy? |
| This week the department has hired a new employee. | Esta semana el departamento ha contratado a un empleado nuevo. |
Use the preterite for finished timeframes that are entirely in the past. You'll see this with markers like ayer (yesterday), el mes pasado (last month), or el año pasado (last year).
| Last year they did not achieve the objective. | El año pasado no consiguieron el objetivo. |
| The manager signed the contract yesterday. | El gerente firmó el contrato ayer. |
| Last month we hired many people. | El mes pasado contratamos a mucha gente. |
Reviewing business progress
When giving corporate updates, you will frequently switch between these two tenses. Here is how key business verbs shift between finished and unfinished timeframes:
| to manage | gestionar |
| The manager has handled the problem this morning. | La gerente ha gestionado el problema esta mañana. |
| My colleague managed the sales yesterday. | Mi compañera gestionó las ventas ayer. |
| to invest | invertir |
| Today the department has invested in the project. | Hoy el departamento ha invertido en el proyecto. |
| Yesterday they invested nothing in the company. | Ayer no invirtieron nada en la empresa. |
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