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haberte

ah-BEHR-teh

Compound Verb FormB1Irregular (base verb 'haber') er

to have you?Used in the structure 'to have + done something to you'.

Also:having [done something] to you?When translating the perfect infinitive phrase.

Quick Reference

infinitivehaber

gerundhabiendo

past Participlehabido

📝 In Action

Lamento no haberte avisado antes del cambio de hora.

I regret not having told you about the time change earlier.

Deberías haberte esforzado más en el examen.

You should have made more of an effort on the exam.

¡Qué suerte haberte encontrado aquí!

How lucky to have found you here!

💡 Grammar Points

Structure Breakdown

This word is the perfect infinitive of 'haber' (the helper verb) combined with the pronoun 'te' (meaning 'you,' informal). It must always be followed by a past participle, like 'visto' or 'dicho'.

Showing Past Action

The perfect infinitive ('haberte hecho algo') shows that the action was completed sometime in the past, usually relating to the main action or feeling expressed by the first verb (e.g., regret, necessity, surprise).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Pronoun Placement

Mistake: "Haber te llamado (Separating the pronoun)"

Correction: Haberte llamado. When the verb form is an infinitive, gerund, or affirmative command, the object pronoun 'te' must be physically attached to the end of the verb.

Confusing 'haber' and 'tener'

Mistake: "Tenerte visto."

Correction: Haberte visto. When forming a compound tense (like the perfect infinitive), Spanish uses the helper verb 'haber' (to have done), not 'tener' (to own or possess).

⭐ Usage Tips

Regret and Obligation

This structure is essential for expressing regret ('Siento no haberte...') or past obligation ('Deberías haberte...'). Memorize these common starter phrases.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: haberte

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'haberte'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

haber(to have (auxiliary)) - verb

te(you (object pronoun)) - pronoun

habiendo(having (done something)) - gerund

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'te' attached to the end of 'haber'?

When an infinitive verb (like 'haber') is used, any accompanying object pronouns (like 'te' for 'you') must be attached directly to the end of the infinitive, forming one word. This is a strict rule in Spanish grammar.

Can I use 'haberte' if I am speaking formally (to 'usted')?

No. 'Te' is the informal pronoun used for 'tú'. For formal situations, you would use 'haberle' (if 'le' is an indirect object) or 'haberlo/haberla' (if 'lo' or 'la' is a direct object).