haber causado

Question

Just want to ask something, does the phrase "haber causado" exist in spanish? I suppose it means "to have caused".

I just read some examples like the ff.

1. Mario maltrató a su esposa antes. Pero él le pidió perdón por todo el dolor que le había causado

   Mario used to mistreat her wife. But he asked for forgiveness for all the pain that he have caused her

2. el daño que estas declaraciones han causado

   the damage that these remarks have caused

3. pagar el daño que ellos han causado

   in order to pay the damage that they caused

Thank you so much in advance!

Yes, it´s very common - 005faa61, Feb 15, 2015

Answer 1

Here's one example that uses the infinitive form "haber causado"

El general sintió tristaza por haber causado tanto daño a la causa de la Libertad.

The general felt sadness for having caused so much damage to the cause of liberty.

(I'm not referring to any specific event in history--just a sentence that popped into my head. )

Note that where the infinitive is used in Spanish, the present participle+past participle is used.

Answer 2

I can give you a grammar answer - Names of verbal forms in Spanish and English:

haber causado is called the Infinitivo Perfecto - Perfect Infinitive = to have caused

había causado is called the Pluscuamperfecto - Past perfect = had caused (note: in your sentence it should be translated: "all the pain that he had caused her."

han causado is called the Pretérito Perfecto - Present Perfect = have / has caused

Answer 3

Hello Dennis,

Very good question

The sentence you provided said:

Mario maltrató a su esposa antes. Pero él le pidió perdón por todo el dolor que le había causado. Mario used to mistreat her wife. But he asked for forgiveness for all the pain that he have caused her

I believe that maltrató is wrong/incorrect here! The Spanish use the imperfect indicative to indicate a repetitive action that used to take place in the past / to indicate an habitual action that a person used to do in the past!

So I believe that the sentence should actually be:

Mario maltrataba a su esposa antes pero le pidio a ella por todo el dolor que le había causado.

I hope this helps

Corrijan mi español, si necesario, por favor

I agree with you. - Jubilado, Feb 16, 2015

Thank you, Jubilado :) - FELIZ77, Feb 16, 2015

Thanks! - Dennis_the_Adventurer, Feb 18, 2015