Madrigals Magic Key to Spanish (151 page)

IR,
to go

LEER,
to read

The conditional is used with the past subjunctive in the following way:

CONDITIONAL + (IF) PAST SUBJUNCTIVE

IRÍA a México…………………SI FUERA posible.

I would go to Mexico………………if it were possible
.

This order can be reversed:

(IF) PAST SUBJUNCTIVE + CONDITIONAL

SI FUERA posible, …………………IRÍA a México

If it were possible,………………I would go to Mexico

   
EXAMPLES
:

1. Leería el libro si
   fuera
   interesante.
   I would read the book if it were interesting
   .
   
2. Escribiría una carta si
   tuviera
   tiempo.
   I would write a letter if I had time
   .
   
3. Compraría un aeroplano si fuera posible.
   I would buy an airplane if it were possible
   .
   
4. Si fuera posible,
   compraría
   un aeroplano.
   If it were possible, I would buy an airplane
   .
   

There are a few verbs that are
irregular in the conditional.

Notice that these verbs are all nonconformist verbs.

You have learned the present perfect tense (indicative).

In Spanish when you say “I HOPE THAT you have studied” the “have studied” is subjunctive.

I hope that you have studied
. Espero que haya estudiado.

I hope that he has finished
. Espero que haya terminado.

Whenever you say that you hope (in the present) that something happened (in the past) you use the compound subjunctive.

IN
THE
PRESENT

AUXILIARY VERB “HABER”

PRESENT
PERFECT
INDICATIVE

PRESENT
PERFECT
SUBJUNCTIVE

1. I have prepared the lesson
   .
   He preparado la lección.
   I hope that you have prepared the lesson
   .
   Espero que haya preparado la lección.
   
2. We have finished the work
   .
   Hemos terminado el trabajo.
   I hope that we have finished the work
   .
   Espero que hayamos terminado el trabajo.
   
3. They have paid the bill
   .
   Han pagado la cuenta.
   I hope that they have paid the bill
   .
   Espero que hayan pagado la cuenta.
   The past participle never changes in compound tenses.
   

AR verb

ER verb

Notice that the participles (comprado, vendido) do not change. Only the auxiliary changes.

The subjunctive present perfect is used with the following
expressions.

1. ESPERO QUE (
   I hope that
   ), when you hope that something happened or has happened in the past.
   
2. DUDO QUE (
   I doubt that
   ), when you doubt that something happened or has happened in the past.
   
3. TEMO QUE (
   I fear that
   ), when you fear that something happened or has happened in the past.
   
4. SIENTO QUE (
   I’m sorry that, I regret that
   ), when you are sorry that something has happened in the past.
   
5. NO CREO QUE (
   I don’t think that
   ), when you don’t think that something happened or has happened in the past.
   
6. AUNQUE (
   even though, even if
   ), when followed by the auxiliary “have.” Aunque haya trabajado,
   even though you have worked
   .
   
7. CUANDO (
   when
   ), when followed by the auxiliary “have” or “has.” Example:
   When you have finished
   , Cuando haya terminado.
   
8. CON TAL QUE (
   provided
   ), when followed by the auxiliary “have” or “has.” Example:
   Provided he has read the book
   , Con tal que haya leído el libro.
   
9. “Es” followed by any adjective or noun and the word “que” requires the present perfect subjunctive when followed by the auxiliary “have” or “has.”
   EXAMPLE
   : ES POSIBLE QUE (
   It is possible that
   ), when followed by the auxiliary “have” or “has.”
   It is possible that he has read the book
   . Es posible que haya leído el libro.
   

PAST
PERFECT
INDICATIVE