When should I use Pretérito Perfecto and Pretérito Indefinido?

We use Pretérito Perfecto if the timeframe we situate a sentence in hasn’t ended.

For example: Hoy he ordenado mi escritorio. – Today I cleaned my desk. - The day hasn’t ended yet, that’s why I used the Pretérito Perfecto tense.

Esta semana han empezado las clases de español. – This week started spanish classes. – The week hasn´t ended yet so we use retérito Perfecto.

This tense is also used when the action has consequences in the present or future:

For example: He planeado leer veinte páginas de un libro cada día. – I planned to read twenty pages of a book every day. – The action of planning to read has influence on every day, from the day it was planned onwards.

The Pretérito Indefinido tens is used for actions that concluded in a particular time in the past.

For example: El año pasado fuimos a Venezuela. – Last year we went to Venezuela. - The year concluded, there are no consequences of this action in the present.

Conocí a tu marido. – I met your husband. It was a single event that concluded in the past.

Another way of using Pretérito Indefinido is to signal a new action when the other one started earlier and has been lasting. Think of it as an interruption.

For example: Estaba saliendo de casa cuando mi amiga llamó. – I was leaving de house when my friend called.

Estaba en la tienda cuando capturaron al ladrón. – I was in the shop when they caught the thief.

I hope that now you can use Pretérito Perfecto and Pretérito Indefinido with more confidence. However, if you have any questions or you would like someone to check your work, book a tuition with me.