The perfect gerund
When describing step-by-step sequences, especially in formal paperwork or legal cases, you can use the perfect gerund to establish the chronological background. It translates to "having [done something]" in English and shows that one action was completed before the main action of the sentence began.
Form the perfect gerund by combining habiendo (the gerund of haber) with a past participle:
- habiendo
- visto, escrito, archivado, etc.
| Having seen the file, the judge went to the court. | Habiendo visto el expediente, el juez fue al tribunal. |
| Having written the lawsuit, the plaintiff went to the office. | Habiendo escrito la demanda, el demandante fue a la oficina. |
Official procedures
Because it clearly marks a completed step, the perfect gerund is very common in administrative language to show that proper procedure was followed before moving to the next action.
| Having notified the plaintiff, the assistant delivered the lawsuit. | Habiendo notificado al demandante, el asistente entregó la demanda. |
| Having analyzed the testimony, the judge wrote the verdict. | Habiendo analizado el testimonio, el juez escribió el veredicto. |
Setting the timeline
The perfect gerund simply means its action happened before the main verb. While the main verb is usually in the past tense when recounting a sequence of events, it can also be in the present tense.
| Having done that, the plaintiff did not appeal. | Habiendo hecho eso, el demandante no apeló. |
| Having notified the judge, the lawyer appeals the verdict. | Habiendo notificado al juez, el abogado apela el veredicto. |