Future Tense to Show Conjecture: ¿Qué habré hecho con las llaves?

Question

Did I find an error in this example sentence from the Hacer definition page?

¿qué habré hecho con las llaves? -> what have I done with the keys?

Shouldn't it be, ¿Qué he hecho con las llaves? Or is there some colloquial manner of speech that I don't know about?

Answer 1

One of the uses of the future tense in Spanish is to show conjecture which I think is what is being done in this sentence.

¿Qué he hecho...? would be asking for factual information from someone that you know has the answer (100% probability or no conjecture)

What have I done to change your mind?

• Is conjecture reserved for the subjunctive tense? (I have no idea. Just trying to learn.) - Stobber Oct 18, 2009
• Read 2B at this site. http://users.ipfw.edu/jehle/COURSES/FUTURE.HTM I think that the conditional might get into conjecture. I think of the subjunctive more with probability and doubt. - qfreed Oct 19, 2009
• That link seals it, then. Thanks! - Stobber Oct 19, 2009

Answer 2

i would read that as, "what will i have done with the keys" but i agree with what the previous poster said, its probably just a different interpretation of the tense

• Please note that it is mandatory on this forum to use correct spelling, grammar, and capitalization in your posts. - - Heidita Oct 19, 2009

Answer 3

Quentin is right, we use the tense to make a conjecture.

Ha llamado alguien. ¿Quién habrá llamado a estas horas? ( I have no idea and I think this person should not have called, it was too late....)

¿Quién ha llamado? Who has called? (you suppose the other person knows or can find out)