Subjunctive vs imperfect subjunctive question

Question

Hola a todos,

I have a subjunctive question. According to the reference sources I'm using (for example here: http://www.elearnspanishlanguage.com/grammar/verbs/imperfectsubjunctive.html ), the imperfect subjunctive is used when the main clause is in a past, conditional, or pluperfect tense. But I'm wondering which tense should be used when the main clause is in the present but you are talking about something in the past.

For instance: I'm sorry that I could not attend the party (yesterday). If you say "Siento que no pueda asistir la fiesta", it seems like that would be translated as "Sorry I can't attend the party, in the present or future. In an instance like this where the main clause is in the present but you are talking about the past, should the imperfect be used as well?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Hola a todos: (the comma is in English)

If you say "Siento que no pueda asistir la fiesta">

It would be wrong, I'm afraid. The subject of the main sentence and the clause are the same ("I am sorry" and "I couldn't..."), so you use infinitive: "Siento no haber podido asistir a la fiesta". The sentence you've given could only mean "I'm sorry I will not be able to...", but a native would never say that, so if you took that from a web page, delete it from your bookmarks right away!

Basically, whatever you are sorry about should be a noun, but since you need to describe what you are sorry about with a verb, you must use an infinitive. However, you need a past, so you use the past infinitive form "haber asistido" (or "haber podido asistir"), which works like a noun, but using verbs in the past.

thanks, this is really helpful. I was thinking that the subject of both clauses are the same, but couldn't figure out how to use an infinitive and make any sense at all. - luke77, Nov 7, 2010

Answer 2

Siento que no pudiera asistir a la fiesta. (coloquial) Siento no haber podido asisitir a la fiesta (correct grammar)