The conditional perfect
The conditional perfect (el condicional compuesto) is used to talk about hypothetical situations in the past—things that would have happened under different circumstances, but didn't. It is perfect for discussing alternate outcomes in scientific experiments or space missions.
To form it, combine the conditional tense of the auxiliary verb haber with a past participle (usually ending in -ado or -ido).
| Pronoun | Form of haber |
|---|---|
| yo / él / ella / usted | habría |
| tú | habrías |
| nosotros / nosotras | habríamos |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | habrían |
| The radiation would have altered the sample. | La radiación habría alterado la muestra. |
| An error in the calculation would have changed the trajectory. | Un error en el cálculo habría cambiado la trayectoria. |
| In the simulator, we would have saved the sample. | En el simulador, habríamos salvado la muestra. |
Negation and object pronouns
When exploring what wouldn't have happened if conditions were different, simply place no directly before the conjugated form of haber.
| Last year, the bacteria would not have survived. | El año pasado, la bacteria no habría sobrevivido. |
Similarly, if you need to use an object pronoun (like lo, la, or nos), always place it directly before the form of haber as well.
| Yesterday it was confirmed that the new calculation would have proved it. | Ayer se confirmó que el nuevo cálculo lo habría demostrado. |
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