…because I’m going to take the headline of this post to teach you a very common Spanish verb tense: pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo.

“Come on, Adir! Grammar again?” Well, my dear, when students first come in to have classes with me I tell them: first thing you gotta do is try to get your verbs right, the rest will come!

First, let’s see how the Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo is formed:

Haber (present subjunctive) + past participle of the main verb. Here’s a little table to help you:

The Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo is used:

– With an action that was finished in the past:

Espero que te haya dado tiempo de llegar puntualmente.
I hope you have had time to arrive on time.

– With a finished action in the future

Cuando hayas limpiado las ventanas, empieza a limpiar el suelo.
When you have cleaned the windows, start cleaning the floor.

– To express something that you don’t think has happened yet:

No creo que haya llegado todavía.
I don’t think he has arrived yet.

Golden tip!

Here are some verbs and expressions used with the Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo:

Agradecer [to thank]
Alegrarse de [to be glad]
No creer [to not believe]
Dudar [to doubt]
Expresar [to express]
Extrañarse [to be surprised at]
Lamentar [to regret]
Sentir [to feel]
Perdonar [to forgive]
Tener miedo de / Temer [to fear]

+ que + subjunctive

Quizá(s) [Perhaps]
Ojalá [Hopefully]
(No) Es conveniente [convenient]
(No) Es importante [important]
(No) Es incierto [uncertain]
(No) Es interesante [interesting]
(No) Es necesario [necessary]
(No) Es probable [probable, likely]
(No) Es posible [possible]
(No) Es seguro [certain]

Some more examples:

Dudo que haya hecho los deberes.
I doubt he has done his homework.

Lamento que te haya pasado eso.
I’m sorry that has happened to you.

Me extraña que hayas llegado tan temprado.
I’m surprised at how early you have arrived.

Quizás él ya haya hablado con su jefe sobre esa situación.
Perhaps he has already talked to his boss about that issue.

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