hubiese
oo-bee-AY-seh
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Si lo hubiese sabido antes, no habríamos venido.
B2If I had known it sooner, we wouldn't have come.
Me alegré de que no hubiese ocurrido nada grave.
C1I was happy that nothing serious had happened.
Hubiese querido verte, pero no fue posible.
C1I would have liked to see you, but it wasn't possible. (Implies 'I wish I had been able to see you.')
💡 Grammar Points
A Past That Didn't Happen
"Hubiese" is the auxiliary verb used to create the Pluperfect Subjunctive (e.g., 'hubiese viajado'). This tense refers to past actions that are hypothetical, uncertain, wished for, or contrary to the facts.
Interchangeable Forms
In nearly all contexts, you can replace 'hubiese' with 'hubiera' (e.g., 'Si hubiese sabido' is the same as 'Si hubiera sabido'). Both are correct, though 'hubiera' is much more common in daily speech.
High-Level Conditional Sentences
This form often appears in 'If' statements about the past, usually paired with the conditional perfect ('habría'): 'Si hubiese hecho X, habría pasado Y' (If I had done X, Y would have happened).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing Conditional and Subjunctive
Mistake: "Si habría estudiado más, hubiese aprobado."
Correction: Si hubiese estudiado más, habría aprobado. (The 'if' clause always uses the subjunctive, not the conditional in this type of sentence.)
⭐ Usage Tips
When to Use 'Hubiese'
If you are writing an essay, a formal letter, or simply want to sound more eloquent and literary, using 'hubiese' over 'hubiera' can elevate the formality of your Spanish.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: hubiese
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'hubiese' to talk about an unreal past condition?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'hubiese' the same as 'hubiera'?
Yes, they are the same in function and meaning. 'Hubiese' is the second, slightly more formal, way to form the imperfect subjunctive of 'haber'. You can use either one.
Which person uses 'hubiese'?
'Hubiese' is used for the first-person singular (yo: I) and the third-person singular (él/ella/usted: he/she/you formal). For example, 'Yo hubiese ido' or 'Ella hubiese ido'.