- Form the perfect subjunctive with haber (present subjunctive) + past participle
- Express completed actions after subjunctive triggers (doubt, emotion, possibility)
- Use perfect subjunctive with expressions like 'espero que', 'dudo que', 'es posible que'
- Distinguish between perfect subjunctive and present perfect indicative
- Apply perfect subjunctive in complex sentences and time clauses
- Recognise when completed actions require subjunctive mood
What You'll Learn
Overview
The perfect subjunctive (presente perfecto de subjuntivo) expresses completed actions in contexts that require the subjunctive mood. It's formed with the present subjunctive of haber + past participle.
This advanced tense combines two key concepts: the perfect aspect (completed actions) and the subjunctive mood (doubt, emotion, possibility). Use it when talking about completed actions that involve:
- Doubt or denial: "I doubt he has arrived" (Dudo que haya llegado)
- Emotion or reaction: "I'm glad you've passed" (Me alegro de que hayas aprobado)
- Possibility or uncertainty: "It's possible they've finished" (Es posible que hayan terminado)
- Wishes or hopes: "I hope she's recovered" (Espero que se haya recuperado)
When to Use Perfect Subjunctive
Use perfect subjunctive after subjunctive triggers when the action is completed or perfect. If the trigger requires subjunctive (doubt, emotion, etc.) AND the action is finished, use perfect subjunctive: "Dudo que hayan llegado" (I doubt they have arrived).
Structure & Formation
Conjugating Haber in the Present Subjunctive
yo → haya
haya hablado
I have spoken (subjunctive)
tú → hayas
hayas comido
you have eaten (subjunctive)
él/ella/usted → haya
haya vivido
he/she has lived (subjunctive)
nosotros/as → hayamos
hayamos terminado
we have finished (subjunctive)
vosotros/as → hayáis
hayáis salido
you all have left (subjunctive)
ellos/ellas/ustedes → hayan
hayan llegado
they have arrived (subjunctive)
Forming Past Participles
Regular -ar verbs: → -ado
hablar → hablado, estudiar → estudiado, trabajar → trabajado
Regular -er/-ir verbs: → -ido
comer → comido, vivir → vivido, salir → salido
Common irregular participles:
hacer → hecho, escribir → escrito, ver → visto, decir → dicho,
poner → puesto, volver → vuelto, abrir → abierto, romper → roto, morir → muerto
Common Triggers for Perfect Subjunctive
Espero que + perfect subjunctive
Espero que hayas llegado bien
I hope you've arrived safely
Dudo que + perfect subjunctive
Dudo que hayan terminado
I doubt they've finished
Me alegro de que + perfect subjunctive
Me alegro de que hayas aprobado
I'm glad you've passed
Es posible que + perfect subjunctive
Es posible que haya llovido
It's possible it has rained
No creo que + perfect subjunctive
No creo que se hayan ido
I don't think they've left
Ojalá + perfect subjunctive
Ojalá haya funcionado
I hope it worked / has worked
Examples
Hope & Wishes
Espero que
Espero que hayas tenido un buen viaje
I hope you've had a good journey
Ojalá
Ojalá hayamos hecho lo correcto
I hope we've done the right thing
Espero que
Espero que no hayan tenido problemas
I hope they haven't had problems
Ojalá
Ojalá se haya recuperado pronto
I hope he/she has recovered quickly
Doubt & Denial
Dudo que
Dudo que hayan recibido mi mensaje
I doubt they've received my message
No creo que
No creo que haya llovido tanto
I don't think it has rained that much
Es imposible que
Es imposible que hayamos perdido el tren
It's impossible we've missed the train
No pienso que
No pienso que hayas hecho nada mal
I don't think you've done anything wrong
Emotion & Reaction
Me alegro
Me alegro de que hayáis aprobado el examen
I'm glad you've all passed the exam
Siento que
Siento que no hayas podido venir
I'm sorry you couldn't come
Me sorprende
Me sorprende que hayan terminado tan rápido
I'm surprised they've finished so quickly
Es una pena
Es una pena que haya llovido
It's a shame it rained
Possibility & Uncertainty
Es posible que
Es posible que hayan rechazado la propuesta
It's possible they've rejected the proposal
Puede que
Puede que haya llegado tarde
He/she may have arrived late
Es probable que
Es probable que hayamos ganado
It's likely we've won
Quizás
Quizás hayan olvidado la cita
Maybe they forgot the appointment
Common Mistakes
Most Common Perfect Subjunctive Mistakes
Wrong: Espero que has llegado
Correct: Espero que hayas llegado
After subjunctive triggers like 'espero que', use perfect subjunctive (hayas), not indicative (has)
Wrong: No creo que han venido
Correct: No creo que hayan venido
After 'no creo que' (doubt), you must use subjunctive mood
Wrong: Espero que haya escribido
Correct: Espero que haya escrito
Remember irregular participles: escribir → escrito, not *escribido
Wrong: Me alegro que hayas aprobado
Correct: Me alegro de que hayas aprobado
Don't forget the preposition 'de' after 'alegrarse'
Present vs Perfect Subjunctive Confusion
Present Subjunctive (ongoing/future)
Dudo que llegue
I doubt he will arrive / is arriving
Perfect Subjunctive (completed)
Dudo que haya llegado
I doubt he has arrived
If the action is completed (has happened), use perfect subjunctive. If ongoing/future, use present subjunctive.
Perfect vs Pluperfect Subjunctive
Perfect Subjunctive (haya)
Espero que haya llegado
I hope he has arrived (present perspective)
Pluperfect Subjunctive (hubiera)
Esperaba que hubiera llegado
I hoped he had arrived (past perspective)
Use haya for present main verbs (espero, dudo). Use hubiera for past main verbs (esperaba, dudaba).
Quick Memory Check
Ask yourself: "Is the main verb present tense?" (espero, dudo, me alegro)
If yes → use haya + participle for completed subjunctive actions
If the main verb is past tense → use hubiera + participle instead
Quick Test
Test your understanding of the perfect subjunctive:
1. How do you say 'I hope you've arrived safely'?
AEspero que has llegado bien
BEspero que hayas llegado bien
CEspero que llegas bien
DEspero que llegaste bien
2. Complete: 'Dudo que ___ terminado' (I doubt they've finished)
Ahan
Bhayan
Chabían
Dhubieran
3. Which is correct for 'I'm glad you've passed'?
AMe alegro de que has aprobado
BMe alegro de que hayas aprobado
CMe alegro de que aprobaste
DMe alegro de que aprobarás
4. What does 'No creo que haya llovido' mean?
AI don't think it will rain
BI don't think it has rained
CI don't think it rained
DI don't think it rains
5. Choose the correct form: 'Es posible que (nosotros) ___ perdido el tren'
Ahemos
Bhayamos
Chabíamos
Dhubiéramos
6. Complete: 'Ojalá ___ funcionado' (I hope it has worked)
Aha
Bhaya
Chabía
Dhubiera
Want more practice? Try our interactive fill-in-the-blank exercises with progressive lessons!