- Form the pluperfect subjunctive with haber (imperfect subjunctive) + past participle
- Express hypothetical actions that would have been completed in the past
- Use pluperfect subjunctive in third conditional sentences (si clauses)
- Express past wishes and regrets with ojalá + pluperfect subjunctive
- Distinguish between pluperfect subjunctive and other subjunctive tenses
- Apply both forms: hubiera and hubiese interchangeably
What You'll Learn
Overview
The pluperfect subjunctive (pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo) expresses hypothetical actions that would have been completed in the past. It's formed with the imperfect subjunctive of haber (hubiera/hubiese) + past participle.
This is the most advanced subjunctive tense, combining the pluperfect aspect (past perfect) with the subjunctive mood (hypothetical). Use it primarily for:
- Third conditional sentences: "If I had known, I would have come" (Si hubiera sabido, habría venido)
- Past wishes and regrets: "I wish I had studied more" (Ojalá hubiera estudiado más)
- After past subjunctive triggers: "I doubted he had arrived" (Dudaba que hubiera llegado)
- Expressing what might have happened: "As if it had been true" (Como si hubiera sido verdad)
Two Forms: Hubiera vs Hubiese
The pluperfect subjunctive has two grammatically interchangeable forms: hubiera and hubiese. Both mean exactly the same thing ("Si hubiera sabido" = "Si hubiese sabido" - If I had known). However, hubiera is more common in everyday speech, especially in Latin America, while hubiese tends to be more formal and literary. You'll see hubiese more often in formal writing, academic texts, and literature.
Structure & Formation
Conjugating Haber in the Imperfect Subjunctive
Hubiera form (more common in Latin America):
yo → hubiera
hubiera hablado
I had spoken (hypothetical)
tú → hubieras
hubieras comido
you had eaten (hypothetical)
él/ella/usted → hubiera
hubiera vivido
he/she had lived (hypothetical)
nosotros/as → hubiéramos
hubiéramos terminado
we had finished (hypothetical)
vosotros/as → hubierais
hubierais salido
you all had left (hypothetical)
ellos/ellas/ustedes → hubieran
hubieran llegado
they had arrived (hypothetical)
Hubiese form (interchangeable): hubiese, hubieses, hubiese, hubiésemos, hubieseis, hubiesen
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 Uses of Pluperfect Subjunctive
Si + pluperfect subjunctive
Si hubiera sabido, habría venido
If I had known, I would have come
Ojalá + pluperfect subjunctive
Ojalá hubiera estudiado más
I wish I had studied more
Como si + pluperfect subjunctive
Hablaba como si hubiera estado allí
He spoke as if he had been there
Past doubts/emotions
Dudaba que hubieran llegado
I doubted they had arrived
Aunque + pluperfect subjunctive
Aunque hubiera llovido, habríamos ido
Even if it had rained, we would have gone
Antes de que + pluperfect subjunctive
Salió antes de que hubiéramos llegado
He left before we had arrived
Examples
Regrets & Past Wishes
Ojalá
Ojalá hubiera estudiado más para el examen
I wish I had studied more for the exam
Ojalá
Ojalá no hubiera dicho eso
I wish I hadn't said that
Ojalá
Ojalá hubiéramos comprado la casa cuando pudimos
I wish we had bought the house when we could
Ojalá
Ojalá hubiera sido más honesto con ella
I wish I had been more honest with her
Third Conditional (If... would have...)
Si hubiera
Si hubiera sabido, te habría llamado
If I had known, I would have called you
Si hubieras
Si hubieras venido, te habría gustado la fiesta
If you had come, you would have liked the party
Si hubiera
Si hubiera llovido, nos habríamos quedado en casa
If it had rained, we would have stayed at home
Si hubieran
Si hubieran entrenado más, habrían ganado
If they had trained more, they would have won
As If (Como si)
Como si
Hablaba como si hubiera estado allí
He spoke as if he had been there
Como si
Actuaba como si nunca me hubiera conocido
She acted as if she had never met me
Como si
Hablaba como si hubiera ganado la lotería
He spoke as if he had won the lottery
Como si
Me miró como si hubiera visto un fantasma
She looked at me as if she had seen a ghost
Past Doubts & Emotions
Dudaba que
Dudaba que hubieran llegado a tiempo
I doubted they had arrived on time
No creía que
No creía que hubieran aprobado el examen
I didn't think they had passed the exam
Me sorprendió
Me sorprendió que hubieran renovado la casa
I was surprised they had renovated the house
Sentía que
Sentía que no hubiera podido ayudarles
I was sorry I hadn't been able to help them
Common Mistakes
Using conditional perfect instead of pluperfect subjunctive after 'si'
Si habría sabido, habría venido
Si hubiera sabido, habría venido
After 'si' in third conditionals, use pluperfect subjunctive (hubiera), not conditional perfect (habría).
Using perfect subjunctive instead of pluperfect subjunctive
Si haya sabido (perfect subjunctive)
Si hubiera sabido (pluperfect subjunctive)
Perfect subjunctive (haya) is for completed actions with present context. Pluperfect subjunctive (hubiera) is for hypothetical past perfect.
Confusing hubiera with habría
Ojalá habría estudiado más
Ojalá hubiera estudiado más
After 'ojalá' for past wishes, use pluperfect subjunctive (hubiera), not conditional perfect (habría).
Using indicative pluperfect instead of subjunctive
Si había sabido (pluperfect indicative)
Si hubiera sabido (pluperfect subjunctive)
Third conditionals require pluperfect subjunctive (hubiera), not pluperfect indicative (había).
Wrong participle form
Si hubiera escribido
Si hubiera escrito
Remember irregular participles: escribir → escrito, not *escribido.
Mixing hubiera and hubiese forms incorrectly
Si hubiera sabido, hubiese venido
Si hubiera sabido, habría venido
While hubiera and hubiese are interchangeable, the 'would have' part uses conditional perfect (habría), not pluperfect subjunctive.
Quick Test
1. How do you say 'If I had known, I would have come'?
ASi sé, vendré
BSi sabría, vendría
CSi hubiera sabido, habría venido
DSi haya sabido, habría venido
2. Complete: 'Ojalá ___ estudiado más' (I wish I had studied more)
Ahe
Bhabría
Chaya
Dhubiera
3. Which is correct for 'If you had arrived, you would have seen it'?
ASi llegas, lo verás
BSi hubieras llegado, lo habrías visto
CSi habrías llegado, lo habrías visto
DSi hayas llegado, lo habrías visto
4. What does 'Como si hubiera estado allí' mean?
AWhen he was there
BAs if he had been there
CIf he would be there
DAlthough he's there
5. Choose the correct form for 'we' (nosotros): 'had spoken' (hypothetical)
Ahemos hablado
Bhabíamos hablado
Chubiéramos hablado
Dhayamos hablado
6. Complete: 'Dudaba que ___ terminado' (I doubted they had finished)
Ahan
Bhabían
Chubieran
Dhayan
7. Which form is 'you had seen' in pluperfect subjunctive?
Ahas visto
Bhabías visto
Chubieras visto
Dhayas visto
8. Identify the error: 'Si habría sabido, habría venido'
AShould be 'si sé'
BShould be 'si hubiera sabido'
CShould be 'vendría' at the end
DNo error
Want more in-depth practice? Try our interactive fill-in-the-blank exercises with progressive lessons covering WEIRDO triggers, regular and irregular verbs!