If a Spanish verb has an irregular past participle we say this verb is irregular in the perfect tenses because perfect tenses conjugations use the past participle of the main verb.
Spanish irregular verbs conjugated in El Pretérito Perfecto del Subjuntivo
The present perfect subjunctive in Spanish is formed by the auxiliary verb haber in the present subjunctive, followed by the past participle of the main verb.
Look at the following examples:
Es probable que haya hecho toda la tarea antes de ir al concierto.It's probable that I'll have done all my homework before going to the concert.
No creo que hayas puesto los libros en el lugar equivocado.I don't think that you've put the books in the wrong place. [you = tú]
No pienso que haya escrito la crítica para ese periódico.I don't think she has written the review for that newspaper.
Es posible que hayamos frito demasiado las patatas.It's possible that we have fried the potatoes too much.
No puedo creer que hayáis absuelto al criminal tan rápido.I can't believe that you all have absolved the criminal that fast.
Remember that the construction tal vez (maybe) accepts both indicative and subjunctive moods without any change of the meaning.
Irregular participles in Spanish
As in all perfect tenses, there are irregular participles that do not follow the -ado or -ido pattern, but have their own forms. Let's see some examples:
|
Verb |
Irregular participle |
|
hacer (to do/make) |
hecho |
|
escribir (write) |
escrito |
|
poner (to put) |
puesto |
|
volver (to return) |
vuelto |
|
morir (to die) |
muerto |
|
decir (to say) |
dicho |
|
abrir (to open) |
abierto |
|
satisfacer (to satisfy) |
satisfecho |
See Irregular past participles
Want to make sure your Spanish sounds confident? We’ll map your knowledge and give you free lessons to focus on your gaps and mistakes. Start your Braimap today »
Learn more about these related Spanish grammar topics
Examples and resources
Es genial que ustedes hayan hecho todo eso solos.It's great that you've done all that by yourselves.
Tal vez hayan visto la película sin subtítulos en inglés.They might have seen the film without English subtitles.
No puedo creer que hayáis absuelto al criminal tan rápido.I can't believe that you all have absolved the criminal that fast.
No pienso que haya escrito la crítica para ese periódico.I don't think she has written the review for that newspaper.
Es probable que haya hecho toda la tarea antes de ir al concierto.It's probable that I'll have done all my homework before going to the concert.
