The Present Perfect Subjunctive (Pretérito Perfecto de Subjuntivo) is a compound tense used to talk about past actions that are connected to the present, but viewed through the lens of subjectivity (wishes, emotions, doubts, etc.). It combines the Present Subjunctive of the auxiliary verb haber with the past participle of the main verb.

When to Use the Spanish Present Perfect Subjunctive

This tense is used when the trigger expression (WEIRDO) is in the present, future, or present perfect indicative, but the action being discussed occurred in the past and is relevant now:

1. Subjectivity about a Recent Past Action

Expressing wishes, emotions, doubts, etc., about something that has happened recently.

  • Espero que hayan llegado bien. (I hope they have arrived / arrived safely.)
  • Me alegro de que hayas terminado el proyecto. (I’m happy that you have finished the project.)
  • Dudo que él haya dicho eso. (I doubt he has said / said that.)
  • Es posible que hayan comido ya. (It’s possible they have already eaten / ate already.)
  • ¡Ojalá haya aprobado el examen! (I hope I have passed / passed the exam!)

2. Contrast with Present Subjunctive

Use Present Subjunctive for present/future uncertainty; use Present Perfect Subjunctive for past uncertainty linked to the present.

  • Present Subj.: Dudo que vengan hoy. (I doubt they are coming today / will come today.)
  • Pres. Perf. Subj.: Dudo que hayan venido ayer. (I doubt they came / have come yesterday.)
  • Present Subj.: Es bueno que estudies. (It’s good that you study / are studying.)
  • Pres. Perf. Subj.: Es bueno que hayas estudiado. (It’s good that you have studied / studied.)

Present Perfect Subjunctive Formation

This tense is formed using:

Present Subjunctive of haber + Past Participle of main verb

Present Subjunctive of Haber

Haber (Present Subjunctive)

  • yo haya

  • tú hayas

  • él/ella/usted haya

  • nosotros/as hayamos

  • vosotros/as hayáis

  • ellos/ellas/ustedes hayan

Past Participles (Review)

  • Regular -ar verbs → -ado (e.g., hablado)
  • Regular -er/-ir verbs → -ido (e.g., comido, vivido)
  • Irregular past participles (e.g., dicho, hecho, visto, escrito, puesto, roto, muerto, abierto, vuelto, cubierto)

Complete Conjugation Examples

Hablar (to speak)

  • (que) yo haya hablado
  • (que) tú hayas hablado
  • (que) él/ella/usted haya hablado
  • (que) nosotros/as hayamos hablado
  • (que) vosotros/as hayáis hablado
  • (que) ellos/ellas/ustedes hayan hablado

Comer (to eat)

  • (que) yo haya comido

  • (que) tú hayas comido

  • (que) él/ella/usted haya comido

  • (que) nosotros/as hayamos comido

  • (que) vosotros/as hayáis comido

  • (que) ellos/ellas/ustedes hayan comido

Hacer (to do/make - irregular participle)

  • (que) yo haya hecho
  • (que) tú hayas hecho
  • (que) él/ella/usted haya hecho
  • (que) nosotros/as hayamos hecho
  • (que) vosotros/as hayáis hecho
  • (que) ellos/ellas/ustedes hayan hecho

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using Present Subjunctive for Past Actions

If the WEIRDO trigger is present but refers to a completed past action, use Present Perfect Subjunctive.

  • Incorrect: Me sorprende que estudies tanto ayer.

  • Correct: Me sorprende que hayas estudiado tanto ayer. (I’m surprised you studied so much yesterday.)

2. Using Indicative After Present WEIRDO Trigger

Even if the action is past, the present trigger still requires subjunctive.

  • Incorrect: Dudo que han llegado. (Present Perfect Indicative)

  • Correct: Dudo que hayan llegado. (Present Perfect Subjunctive)

3. Incorrect Haber Conjugation

Use the present subjunctive forms of haber (haya, hayas…), not the present indicative (he, has…).

  • Incorrect: Es bueno que has comido.

  • Correct: Es bueno que hayas comido.

4. Confusing with Pluperfect Subjunctive

Present Perfect Subjunctive follows present/future triggers referring to recent past. Pluperfect Subjunctive follows past triggers referring to an earlier past.

  • Pres Perf Subj: Espero que hayan terminado. (I hope [now] they have finished [recently].)

  • Pluperf Subj: Esperaba que hubieran terminado. (I hoped [then] they had finished [before then].)

Practice What You’ve Learned

Ready to test your knowledge of the Spanish present perfect subjunctive? Head over to our Practice page and select the “pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo” option to practice.

The practice tool will help you distinguish its use from the present subjunctive and solidify the conjugation pattern.