Breakdown of Me alegra que hayas enviado los documentos a tiempo.
que
that
me
me
haber
to have
enviar
to send
a tiempo
on time
el documento
the document
alegrar
to make happy
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Questions & Answers about Me alegra que hayas enviado los documentos a tiempo.
Why is hayas enviado used instead of has enviado?
Because expressions of emotion like Me alegra que... trigger the subjunctive in the subordinate clause. Has enviado is indicative; here you need the present perfect subjunctive: hayas enviado.
What tense is hayas enviado, and when is it used?
It’s the present perfect subjunctive (haber in present subjunctive + past participle). Use it when the subordinate action is completed before or at the time of the main-clause emotion, often referring to a recent, finished action.
Could I say Me alegra que enviaste los documentos a tiempo?
Not in standard Spanish. After Me alegra que..., use the subjunctive, so ...que hayas enviado.... If you want the indicative, reframe it: Me alegra saber que enviaste los documentos a tiempo.
When would I use envíes instead of hayas enviado?
Use envíes (present subjunctive) for actions that are simultaneous/future or habitual:
- Me alegra que envíes los documentos a tiempo cada mes.
- With a future emotion: Me alegrará que envíes los documentos a tiempo. For a specific action already completed, hayas enviado fits better.
What’s the difference between Me alegra que... and Me alegro de que...? Can I say Me alegra de que?
- Me alegra que... = “It makes me happy that...,” using alegrar (to make happy).
- Me alegro de que... = “I’m glad that...,” using reflexive alegrarse de. Do not say Me alegra de que...; that’s nonstandard (dequeísmo).
Why is it me and not yo? Who is the subject of alegra?
Alegra works like gustar: the thing that causes the emotion is the grammatical subject (here, the clause que hayas enviado...). Me is the indirect object (“to me”), and the verb stays in 3rd person singular: alegra.
How would this change for usted, ustedes, or other persons?
- Usted: Me alegra que haya enviado...
- Ustedes: Me alegra que hayan enviado...
- Él/ella: Me alegra que haya enviado...
- Nosotros (subject of the subordinate): Me alegra que hayamos enviado... You can also change the experiencer: Te/Le/Les/Nos alegra...
Is there a Latin American vos version?
In most voseo regions, the subjunctive matches the tú form: Me alegra que vos hayas enviado.... In some Central American speech you may hear vos hayás enviado, but hayas is the safest choice in writing.
Can I replace enviar with mandar or another verb?
Yes. Mandar is very common in Latin America: ...que hayas mandado.... More formal: remitir. Informal for digital files: pasar (e.g., ...que me lo hayas pasado...). The meaning stays “send,” with slight register differences.
Can I replace los documentos with a pronoun? Where does it go?
Yes: los. With compound tenses, the clitic goes before the auxiliary haber:
- Me alegra que los hayas enviado a tiempo. Avoid que hayas los enviado; the natural placement is que los hayas enviado.
Does enviado have to agree with los documentos?
Not in perfect tenses with haber; the participle is invariable: los/las has enviado → always enviado. It only agrees when used adjectivally or in passive with ser:
- Adjective: los documentos enviados
- Passive: los documentos fueron enviados
How do I say “I was glad you had sent the documents on time”?
Use past main clause + pluperfect subjunctive:
- Me alegró que hubieras (hubieses) enviado los documentos a tiempo. You can also say: Me alegraba que hubieras enviado... (imperfect main clause).
What if I’m happy about my own action? Do I still use que?
No; with the same subject, use an infinitive:
- Me alegra haber enviado los documentos a tiempo. Alternatively: Me alegro de haber enviado... Using ...de que yo haya enviado... is possible but heavier and used for emphasis.
Can I omit que?
Not here. Que introduces the subordinate clause. Without it, you must restructure (e.g., Me alegra haber enviado...). With alegrarse, include de: Me alegro de que...
Is a tiempo the only way to say “on time”? Any alternatives?
A tiempo is the standard for “on time.” Alternatives by context:
- dentro del plazo / en plazo = within the deadline/term (formal/administrative)
- puntual works for people or attendance: que hayas sido puntual
- a tiempo para + inf.: ...a tiempo para la reunión
Is a passive version okay, like “the documents were sent on time”?
Yes: Me alegra que los documentos hayan sido enviados a tiempo. It’s grammatical but heavier; Spanish often prefers the active: ...que los hayas enviado...
How do you pronounce hayas and enviado?
- hayas: AH-yas; the h is silent; the y can sound like English “y” or a soft “j” depending on region.
- enviado: en-vee-AH-doh; four syllables (en-vi-a-do), stress on “a.”