LEARN SPANISH CONDITIONAL PERFECT INDICATIVE MOOD

Before we study the conditional perfect tense we need to learn some basic concepts about Spanish verbs. Spanish verbs are always either regular or irregular as it happens with English verbs. All Spanish verbs end either in "-ar", "-er" or "-ir". These are the three Spanish conjugations.

Example

Hablar (to speak) Correr (to run) Añadir (to add)

To form the conditional perfect of the indicative mood, we need to use the auxiliary verb "haber" (have) in its conditional simple and the past participle of another verb. To form the past participle of the regular verbs in Spanish, we need to take the verb as we find it in the dictionary and remove the last two letters. Then, if the verb ends in "-ar" we will add the ending "-ado" and if the verb ends in "-er" or "-ir" we will add the ending "-ido".

Example

For the verbs ending in -ar:

Example: We take the verb "hablar" (to speak). We remove the "-ar": We are left with "habl-" (the stem) and then we add "-ado". In this way we have the past participle of the verb "hablar" (to speak).

To conjugate the conditional perfect of the verb"hablar" (to speak) we will use the conditional simple tense of the verb "haber" (to have) and the past participle of the verb "hablar" (to speak).

For the verbs ending in -er:

Example: We take the verb "correr" (to run). We remove the "-er": We are left with corr- (the stem) and then we add "-ido". In this way we have the past participle of the verb "correr" (to run).

To conjugate the conditional perfect of the verb "correr" (to run) we will use the conditional simple tense of the verb "haber" (to have) and the past participle of the verb "correr" (to run).

For the verbs ending in -ir:

Example: We take the verb "añadir" (to add). We remove the "-ir": We are left with añad- (the stem) and then we add "-ido". In this way we have the past participle of the verb "añadir" (to add).

To conjugate the conditional perfect of the verb "añadir" (to add) we will use the conditional simple tense of the verb "haber" (to have) and the past participle of the verb "añadir" (to add).

The differences between the persons "tú" (you), "vosotros" (you all), "usted" (you formal) and "ustedes" (you all formal) are explained in Spanish Personal Pronouns.

Some of the irregular verbs will be conjugated exactly in the same form, adding the same sets of endings; the only difference is that they will have some spelling changes in the stem of the verb. ***Remember*** Spanish Irregular verbs can be highly irregular and the general rule is "The rules do not apply". Download our free Spanish verb Trainer and practice .

SOME GENERAL USES

We use the conditional perfect to express a finished future action in relation to past actions.

Example

Habría llamado ayer si hubiera podido.

I would have phoned yesterday if I had been able to

Te lo habría contado si hubiera podido.

I would have told you if I had been able to

Nos lo habríamos comprado si hubiera sido azul.

We would have bought it if it had been blue

Me lo habría dicho antes.

She would have told me before

The conditional perfect is also used to express conditions that are impossible.

Example

Habría cogido el tren de las 4.00 si hubiera llegado a tiempo.

I would have caught the train at 4.00 if I had been on time

Te habría comprado un buen regalo si hubiera tenido más dinero.

I would have bought you a better present if I had had more money

The conditional perfect is used as well to express hypothesis.

Example

Estoy segura que él habría conseguido el contrato.

I am sure that he would have got the contract

Yo habría hecho lo mismo.

I would have done the same

Back to top