The present perfect subjunctive is a compound form (it requires an auxiliary verb), and refers to dependent (subordinate) actions that are being expressed as having been completed. In other words, the present perfect subjunctive is used to express actions that took place BEFORE the main clause:
- Juan no cree que Jaime haya aprobado sus exámenes.
(Juan does not believe that Jaime passed his exams.)
Note that Juan does not believe NOW that Jaime passed his exams BEFORE. Let´s see the next example:
- La clase terminará cuando hayan terminado el examen.
(The class will finish when you (guys) finish your tests.)
Note how the class will finish AFTER the action stated in the subordinate clause has taken place. Depending on the context, the present perfect subjunctive may indicate an action or event that takes place in the past or the future.
The present perfect subjunctive is formed by the present subjunctive of the helping verb "haber" plus the past participle form of the appropriate verb:
The subjunctive of "haber":
yo haya
tú hayas
él/ella/usted haya
nosotros/nosotros hayamos
vosotros/vosotras hayáis
ellas/ellos/ustedes hayan
Past participle endings (regular verbs)
(-ar)
(-er)
(-ir)
-ado
-ido
-ido
- No puedo creer que me hayas hecho esto.
(I can´t believe that you did this to me.)
- Espero que hayas recibido muchas felicitaciones.
(I hope you received many congratulations.)
- Es increíble que hayan sobrevivido a ese accidente.
(It is incredible that they survived that accident.)
Click here to practice the subjunctive and many other
aspects of Spanish grammar.
