how to choose between present perfect, past perfect, and presente perfect del subjuntivo in spanish

Question

how do you choose between present perfect, past perfect, and presente perfecto del subjuntivo???

Welcome to SpanishDict. I see you are new to our site, but I wanted to let you know, you need to use proper capitalization and punctuation here as we are a language learning site. This question is enormous to answer here. - rac1, Dec 13, 2016

Is there a specific phrase you are working on? It's pretty hard to just explain the subjunctive without examples. - codyandrews1993, Dec 13, 2016

Answer 1

Perfect forms have some variance between users/regions in the Spanish speaking world, but if you use them the same as you would in English you will generally fall within the norm, except that you have to use subjunctive when the construction would demand it.

Present perfect is when you talk about what has happened.

Past perfect is when you talk about what had happened relative to a prior time.

Present perfect subjunctive is in the present, but in a structure that requires subjunctive.

You didn’t mention them but: Conditional involves what would have happened, future what will have happened, and past subjunctive again a time in the past that requires subjunctive.

Present perfect: Lo he hecho. I have done it.

Past perfect: Lo había hecho antes de que él llegara. I had done it before he arrived.

Present perfect subjunctive. Yo no creo que él lo haya hecho. I do not believe that he has done it.

Past perfect subjunctive. Yo no creía que él lo hubiera hecho. I did not believe that he had done it.

Conditional perfect. Lo habría hecho pero él me interrumpió. I would done it but he interrupted me.

Future perfect. Lo habré hecho para mañana. I will have it done by tomorrow.

At least that is how I see it, assuming I have not made any errors.

Answer 2

Do you see the "Menu" tab, upper left corner? Click on that and it will take you to our free lessons. We have many other learning resources available as well. Here are some of the links for your convenience.

Spanish lessons

Spanish Grammar

Other Learning Resources

We also have Flashcards that I believe will help you if you take advantage of them and the other resources.

Good luck!

I meant to include the links to the lessons, but forget after writing all that, superficial as it was. :) - bosquederoble, Dec 13, 2016

Don't even worry about that. :) - rac1, Dec 13, 2016

Typo, forgot, not forget. - bosquederoble, Dec 13, 2016