Spanish Perfect Subjunctive

Quick Answer

In Spanish, conditions for using perfect tenses and for using the subjunctive mood can overlap. When this is the case, we use subjunctive perfect tenses. The subjunctive verbal tenses are el pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo(the present perfect subjunctive), el pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo(the past perfect subjunctive), and el futuro compuesto del subjuntivo(the future perfect subjunctive).

The Subjunctive Perfect Tenses

The Present Perfect Subjunctive

El pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo, or the present perfect subjunctive in English, is used to talk about past actions that are connected to the present, as well as actions that will have happened by a certain point in the future. It is formed with the verb haber in the present subjunctive plus a past participle.

Present Perfect Subjunctive Formula:

present subjunctive of haber + past participle

Let's take a look at some examples that use the present perfect subjunctive.

examples
Me enoja que hayan dejado a su perro en el carro caliente. I'm angry that they left their dog in the hot car.
No es probable que mis papás vayan de vacaciones en agosto. It's not likely that my parents are going on vacation in August.

Want to learn more? Check out our article about the the present perfect subjunctive.

The Past Perfect Subjunctive

El pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo, or the past perfect subjunctive in English, is used to talk about hypothetical situations in the past, past conditionals, and past actions that preceded other past actions. It is formed with the verb haber in the imperfect subjunctive plus a past participle.

Past Perfect Subjunctive Formula:

imperfect subjunctive of haber + past participle

Let's take a look at some examples that use the past perfect subjunctive in action!

examples
Si hubiera venido al cine a tiempo, no habría perdido los tráilers. If I had gotten to the theater on time, I wouldn't have missed the previews.
Mi profesor dudó que mi perro se hubiese comido mis deberes. My professor doubted that my dog had eaten my homework.

Want to learn more? Check out our article about the the past perfect subjunctive.

The Future Perfect Subjunctive

El futuro compuesto del subjuntivo, the future perfect subjunctive in English, is used to indicate actions that will have happened in the future at a certain point. It is rarely used in modern Spanish, save for in literature and in legal documents. In modern conversational Spanish, the past perfect subjunctive is used instead of this tense. The future perfect in Spanish is formed with the verb haber in the future subjunctive plus a past participle.

Future Perfect Subjunctive Formula:

future subjunctive of haber + past participle

Let's take a look at some examples that use the future perfect subjunctive.

examples
Hubiere tomado el examen final a este hora mañana. I will have taken the final exam this time tomorrow.
Cuando por fin llegues, hubiéremos terminado la película. When you eventually get here, we will have finished the movie.