8 2 The past perfect subjunctive The past
8. 2 The past perfect subjunctive • The past perfect subjunctive (el pluscuamperfecto del subjuntivo) is formed with the past subjunctive of haber and a past participle. A Julio le sorprendió que lo hubieran descongelado después de tan pocos años. 1
8. 2 The past perfect subjunctive 2
8. 2 The past perfect subjunctive • The past perfect subjunctive is used in subordinate clauses under the same conditions for other subjunctive forms, and in the same way the past perfect is used in English (I had talked, you had spoken, etc. ). It refers to actions or conditions that had taken place before another past occurrence. Le molestó que los otros investigadores no hubieran asistido a su conferencia. A pesar de que nos mostró fotos, dudábamos que el científico hubiera visto un ovni. It annoyed her that the other researchers hadn’t attended her lecture. Despite the pictures that he showed us, we doubted that the scientist had seen a UFO. 3
8. 2 The past perfect subjunctive • When the action in the main clause is in the past, both the past subjunctive and the past perfect subjunctive can be used in the subordinate clause. Note, however, how the sequence of events differs. Past subjunctive Past perfect subjunctive Tú no pensabas que el telescopio costara tanto, ¿verdad? Tú no pensabas que el telescopio hubiera costado tanto, ¿verdad? You didn’t think the telescope would (was going to) cost so much, right? You didn’t think the telescope (had already) cost so much, right? La empresa buscó una bioquímica que viviera en la zona. La empresa buscó una bioquímica que hubiera vivido en la zona. The company looked for a biochemist who lived (was living) in the area. The company looked for a biochemist who had (might have) lived in the area. 4
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