Present Perfect Subjunctive Spanish: How to Form & Use It

How to Conjugate the Present Perfect Subjunctive in Spanish

The conjugation of the Spanish present perfect subjunctive requires two elements:

2. A verb in past participle form

Let’s start with the first element.

The present subjunctive of haber is formed by adding the subjunctive endings for -ER verbs to the irregular stem hay. Here is a conjugation chart:

PersonPresent Subjunctive
YoHaya
Hayas
Él / Ella
Usted
Haya
NosotrosHayamos
VosotrosHayáis
Ellos / Ellas
Ustedes
Hayan

Regular Spanish past participles are formed by adding the endings –ado and –ido to the stem of -AR and -ER/-IR verbs. For example:

Be aware that there are some verbs with irregular past participle forms (such as decir, hacer, abrir, escribir, etc). These verbs are considered irregular in the Spanish present perfect subjunctive tense.

So, here are some examples of how these two elements work together:

Espero que hayas ayudado a tu mamá.
I hope you have helped your mom.

Ojalá haya encontrado sus llaves.
I hope you found your keys.

Dudo que hayan comprado lo que les pedí.
I doubt you guys have bought what I asked you.

Conjugation chart showing how to form the Spanish present perfect subjunctive

The following sections will explore when and how to use this subjunctive tense.

Take Note: Spanish auxiliary verbs are responsible for communicating the time and mood of an action, and who performs it.

When to Use the Spanish Present Subjunctive

The Spanish present perfect tenses express current emotions, wishes, and uncertainty about past actions that are still relevant to the present. Simply put, this tense captures someone’s emotional or subjective perspective on actions someone has already done.

Because it conveys your present feelings, doubts, or hopes, this tense works with the present indicative tense to form sentences:

[Present] + que + [present perfect subjunctive]

¿Quién crees que haya quebrado el vaso?
Who do you think broke the glass?

Dudo que hayan terminado de limpiar.
I doubt they have finished cleaning.

Espero que hayas tenido un buen día.
I hope you had a good day.

Let’s analyze example #1. From this sentence, we can infer that the glass was already broken by the time I found it (now). So, I use the present perfect subjunctive to express uncertainty about who did this.

Graphic showing how to use the present perfect subjunctive in Spanish

Take Note: Sentences with this tense require a main and dependent clause. In Spanish, the main clause delivers the speaker’s current perception or emotions . The subordinate refers to the action that has already happened and goes in the present perfect subjunctive.

Verbs & Terms that trigger the present perfect subjunctive

Like other subjunctive forms, the present perfect subjunctive tense is triggered by verbs and expressions that convey feelings, hopes, and uncertainty.

Here is a list of common verbs and expressions that trigger this tense:

A couple of notes to keep in mind:

Here are some sentences using these expressions and the present perfect subjunctive tense:

Ojalá hayan llegado bien.
I hope they have arrived well.

¡Qué lástima que no haya funcionado!
What a shame that it didn’t work!

No vamos a ir a menos que hayas limpiado tu cuarto.
We’re not going unless you have cleaned your room.

Take Note: Que is a Spanish conjunction and is used to connect the main clause with the subordinate.

Spanish Present Perfect Indicative vs Present Perfect Subjunctive Tense

The present perfect indicative and its subjunctive counterpart need to be clarified because, on top of having similar names and using similar elements, they both refer to past actions connected to the present. However, there is a substantial difference between these tenses.

The actions described by the Spanish present perfect indicative are considered factual or objective. For example:

Henry ha vivido en Francia toda su vida.
Henry has lived in France his entire life.

Whereas the present perfect subjunctive expresses doubts on whether the action actually happened or conveys the speaker’s emotions towards it:

No creo que Henry haya vivido en Francia toda su vida.
I doubt that Henry has lived in France his entire life.

As you can see, using either the indicative or subjunctive affects how the sentence is perceived.

Graphic showing the difference between the present perfect indicative and the present perfect subjunctive in Spanish

Take Note: Remember that for the present perfect indicative, you must use the present indicative forms of haber.

Key Points

Although the subjunctive mood may not be as clear and distinct in English, it’s crucial in Spanish. The present perfect subjunctive is an excellent example of this. Here are some key points to remember:

Practice Quiz

I’ve prepared a multiple-choice quiz to ensure you understand how this tense works. Click the button below to take it.

Present Perfect Subjunctive Spanish Additional Resources

There are a couple resources that can help you get more familiar with this Spanish tense. Since they’re crucial elements, make sure you practice the conjugations of haber and check the rules to form past participles in Spanish.

Also, understanding how the present perfect indicative tense works can help you reinforce the uses of the subjunctive form we just learned. Don’t forget to test your knowledge of these two compound tenses by taking this present perfect subjunctive practice quiz.

Finally, study other subjunctive tenses that will help you to better communicate your messages.

Download the Spanish Present Perfect Subjunctive PDF

Feel free to download a copy of the PDF for this guide containing all the graphics and key points for forming and using the Spanish present perfect subjunctive tense.