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Course: French English Spanish Greek
Explanations in: Greek English French Spanish
C1

Sequence of tenses with the subjunctive

Which subjunctive tense goes with which main-clause tense.

Main clauseSubjunctive: same time / laterSubjunctive: earlier
present, future, perfect, imperativepresent subj.: que vengaperfect subj.: que haya venido
preterite, imperfect, pluperfect, conditionalimperfect subj.: que vinierapluperfect subj.: que hubiera venido
  • Me alegra que hayas venido. = I'm glad you've come.
  • Me alegró que vinieras. = I was glad you came.
  • Me alegraría que vinieras. = I'd be glad if you came.
  • No creo que lo haya hecho. = I don't think he did it.

Exception: if the subordinate clause refers to something still ahead, the present can stay: Le pedí que me llame mañana (tomorrow hasn't come yet).

  • Es posible que ya hayan llegado.
    They may have arrived already.
  • Le sorprendió que no lo hubiéramos invitado.
    He was surprised we hadn't invited him.

Test yourself

  1. Fill in: Dudo que ella ___ (terminar) ya.
    Show answer
    haya terminado
  2. Fill in: Dudaba que ella ___ (terminar) a tiempo.
    Show answer
    terminara / terminase
  3. Fill in: Ojalá ___ (aprobar, tú) ayer.
    Show answer
    hayas aprobado
  4. Fill in: Me pidieron que ___ (quedarse, yo).
    Show answer
    me quedara / me quedase