Questions about the Past Perfect Subjunctive
Q: Why is it Quería que tú hubieras dicho and NOT Quería que tú habías dicho or Quería que tú hayas dicho?
The verb querer, here in the past (imperfect) requires the use of the past perfect subjunctive in the subordinate clause, not past perfect indicative or present perfect sunjunctive.
Q: Why is it ... después que lo había hecho and NOT ... después que lo hubiera hecho?
The expression después que is followed by the indicative, while antes que is followed by the subjunctive. This makes sense because we can be more certain about events after they happen than before. With después que, it is implied the event occurred which requires the indicative.
Q: Why is it Creía que habías venido and NOT Creía que hubieras venido?
The verb creer is followed by the indicative in affirmative (positive) sentences, but followed by the subjunctive in negative ones (the idea being that there is less certainty in the latter case), e.g.: No creía que hubieras venido.
Q: Why is it Nopensaba que lo hubiera sabido and NOT No pensaba que lo había sabido?
The verb pensar is followed by the subjunctive in negative sentence and indicative in affirmative (positive) ones (the idea being that there is certainty/assertion, rather than doubt, in the positive case), e.g.: Pensaba que lo había sabido.
Q: Why is it Yo haría la tarea si la hubiera traído a casa and NOT Yo hubiera hecho la tarea si la haría traído a casa?
Remember that it is ALWAYS the past perfect subjunctive that occurs immediately after si, NEVER the conditional perfect.
Q: Why is it Nosotros hubiéramos ido a Guatemala and NOT Nosotros habíamos ido a Guatemala to express "should/would have+past participle"?
Use the past perfect subjunctive to express the hypothetical situation/opinion implied. The past perfect means that you actually DID go to Guatemala.
SpanishChecker