When to use it
- Earlier actions after a past trigger
- Unreal past conditions
- Past regrets and wishes
- Counterfactual comparisons
Pretérito pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo
Spanish Past Perfect Subjunctive Conjugation Guide
Use the Spanish past perfect subjunctive for an earlier completed action under a past trigger and for unreal past conditions.
Quick summary
This spanish past perfect subjunctive conjugation reference connects meaning to forms. Use the Spanish past perfect subjunctive for an earlier completed action under a past trigger and for unreal past conditions. Use hubiera or hubiese in the required person followed by an unchanged past participle.
How to form it
Use hubiera or hubiese in the required person followed by an unchanged past participle.
Spanish Past Perfect Subjunctive examples
Me sorprendió que hubieras venido.
I was surprised that you had come.
Si hubiéramos salido antes, habríamos llegado.
If we had left earlier, we would have arrived.
Ojalá lo hubiera sabido.
I wish I had known.
Regular spanish past perfect subjunctive conjugations
Compare a model -ar, -er, and -ir verb. The bold portion is the complete conjugated form.
| Person | hablar(to speak) | comer(to eat) | vivir(to live) |
|---|---|---|---|
| yo | hubiera hablado | hubiera comido | hubiera vivido |
| tú | hubieras hablado | hubieras comido | hubieras vivido |
| él / ella / usted | hubiera hablado | hubiera comido | hubiera vivido |
| nosotros | hubiéramos hablado | hubiéramos comido | hubiéramos vivido |
| vosotros | hubierais hablado | hubierais comido | hubierais vivido |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | hubieran hablado | hubieran comido | hubieran vivido |
Practise this tense with common verbs
Open custom verb practiceCommon spanish past perfect subjunctive mistakes
Incorrect: Ojalá habría sabido.
Correct: Ojalá hubiera sabido.
An unreal wish about a completed past action uses the past perfect subjunctive.
Related Spanish tense guides
Spanish Imperfect SubjunctiveUse the Spanish imperfect subjunctive after past or conditional triggers and in hypothetical present or future conditions.Spanish Conditional Perfect TenseUse the Spanish conditional perfect for unreal past results, missed possibilities, unfulfilled intentions, and conjecture about earlier events.Spanish Present Perfect SubjunctiveUse the Spanish present perfect subjunctive for a completed action viewed through a current reaction, doubt, evaluation, or pending future frame.
Spanish Past Perfect Subjunctive FAQ
What is the spanish past perfect subjunctive?
Use the Spanish past perfect subjunctive for an earlier completed action under a past trigger and for unreal past conditions.
How do you form the spanish past perfect subjunctive?
Use hubiera or hubiese in the required person followed by an unchanged past participle.
When should I use the spanish past perfect subjunctive?
Use it for earlier actions after a past trigger, unreal past conditions, past regrets and wishes, counterfactual comparisons.
How can I practise the spanish past perfect subjunctive?
Use one tense with several common verbs, answer from memory, review corrections, and return when the saved forms become due.