I wish that I had been there

Question

I wish that I had been in Mexico for christmas.

Deseo que había estado en México para la Navidad.

Have I conjugated this correctly and does my Spanish even make sense? Thanks for any help.

using (había) puts reality/life into the verb... [había estado] is indicating a reality in the past... [hubiera estado] pulls the reality from the verb. - avispao, Jan 22, 2013

Answer 1

Hola, Teasip.

You are using (desear que) so you need the subjuntive, that's an always.

When you are speaking about what you'd wish or want in the future, you'd use the present subjuntive, which would mention what you want to become reality in the future. Or you'd use the indicative if the subject doesn't change.

(Yo) Deseo que (tú) viajes a México. (subject changed from what (I) desire to what happens to (you))

(Yo) Deseo viajar a México. (The subject remains (I), and you don't need to introduce a new subject using 'que')

If you are saying what you wish or wanted to be a reality in the past, you then use the 'imperfect subjunctive'

Ojalá (que) + imperfect subjuntive = If only etc

Ojalá (que) hubiera estado en México por Navidad (If only I'd been in México for christmas [but I wasn't obviously])

Ojalá (que) supiera nadar (if only I knew how to swim [but the reality is that I don't])

You can use or omit 'que' in this use.

Espero que este post te sirva.

typo - or you use the 'infinitive' if the subject doesn't change ;) - Kiwi-Girl, Jan 22, 2013

Answer 2

Hi teasip!

No, it doesn't, you cannot use indicative in that sentence, because it makes it sound as if you actually have been in Mexico for Christmas.

Ojalá hubiera estado en México por Navidad

Gets my vote. - Eddy, Jan 22, 2013

Good to see you back cogu =) - DJ_Huero, Jan 22, 2013