perfect subjunctive to express past

Question

According to the grammar book I am studying, the present perfect subjunctive is used in the same kinds of dependent clauses as the present subjunctive. It is used to indicate that the action of the dependent clause happens before the action of the main clause. To illustrate, compare the present subjunctive and the present perfect subjunctive:

1) present subjunctive: Espero que llegue para la una = I hope that he arrives by 1 o'clock. 2) present perfect subjunctive: Espero que haya llegado para la una= I hope that he arrived by 1o'clock.

In these two examples, of course, the verb in the main clause (espero) is in the present tense.

The past perfect subjunctive is parallel to that of the present perfect subjunctive. It is used to indicate that the action of the subordinate clause happened before that of the main clause. To illustrate using the examples in the grammar book I'm studying: 1) present perfect subjunctive: No creo que hayan ido= I don't think they went out. 2) past perfect subjunctive: No creía que hubieran salido=I didn't think they had gone out. 3) imperfect subjunctive (which I didn't discuss above): No creía que salieran=I didn't think they were going out.

FINALLY, MY QUESTION:HOW DO YOU SAY 'I DIDN'T THINK THEY WENT OUT'?

It seems that they examples given don't cover all of the possibilities. I've studied the examples in my grammar book, but I'm not sure I can comfortably navigate the translations. For example, If "No creo que hayan salido" is "I don't think they went out," then how do you say, "I don't think they have gone out"? And if "No creo que hayan salido" is "I don't think they went out" then doesn't it follow that "No creía que hubieran salido" is "I didn't think they went out"?

mistake: Above I said No creía que hubieran salido =I don't think they had gone out. That should have been I didn't think they had gone out. - malbecblend, Aug 16, 2016

Answer 1

The expression,

• Espero que haya llegado para la una is I hope that he's arrived by 1 o'clock. (= this is what expected to have happened.)
  Saying I hope that he arrived by 1 o'clock means Espero que llegara para la una. Rarely have I heard of the latter, but the nuances are different.

1. The structure espero que always triggers the subjunctive and it should be used with a present form. (That is, because it's what's expected to happen.)
2. No creí/creía que salieron. (= I didn't think they went out.)
3. No creí/creía que fuese/fueran a salir. (= I didn't think they were going out.)

:) - FELIZ77, Aug 16, 2016

Usted es muy servicial para todos nosotros. Gracias. ;) - jrschenk, Aug 17, 2016

Answer 2

Continuation of my question:

I've studied the examples in my grammar book, but I'm not sure I can comfortably navigate the translations. For example, If "No creo que hayan salido" is "I don't think they went out," then how do you say, "I don't think they have gone out"? And if "No creo que hayan salido" is "I don't think they went out" then doesn't it follow that "No creía que hubieran salido" is "I didn't think they went out"?

Edit your post. The answer box should be used to give answers, no further information or comments. - Oshnaj, Aug 16, 2016