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How to Say "would have" in Spanish

English → Spanish

habrían

VerbB2Formal
Use 'habrían' as the auxiliary verb to form the conditional perfect tense, typically in the result clause of a past hypothetical situation.

Examples

Si hubieran sabido la verdad, ellos no habrían venido a la fiesta.

If they had known the truth, they would not have come to the party.

hubiera

/oo-BYEH-rah//uˈβjeɾa/

VerbB2Informal
Use 'hubiera' (or 'hubiese') in the result part of a hypothetical sentence when referring to a past unreal condition, often used informally.
A reflective young person sitting next to a large spinning globe, looking wistfully toward a distant horizon where a small, colorful sailboat is leaving, symbolizing a past opportunity that was missed.

Examples

Si hubiera sabido que venías, habría preparado la cena.

If I had known you were coming, I would have prepared dinner.

Ojalá hubiera viajado más cuando era joven.

I wish I had traveled more when I was young.

Actuó como si no hubiera pasado nada.

He acted as if nothing had happened.

Talking About an Impossible Past ('What If...')

Use 'hubiera' to set up a 'what if' scenario in the past that didn't actually happen. It almost always appears in a sentence that starts with 'si' (if). The structure is: Si [hubiera + verb], [habría + verb]. Example: Si hubiera llovido, no habríamos salido. (If it had rained, we wouldn't have gone out.)

Expressing Past Regrets and Wishes

Combine 'hubiera' with 'Ojalá' to say 'I wish...' or 'If only...' about something in the past. Example: ¡Ojalá hubiera comprado las entradas antes! (I wish I had bought the tickets sooner!)

The Other Form: 'Hubiese'

You will often see or hear 'hubiese' used in exactly the same way as 'hubiera'. They mean the same thing and are completely interchangeable. 'Si hubiese sabido' is the same as 'Si hubiera sabido'.

Mixing up 'hubiera' and 'habría'

Mistake: “Si yo habría sabido, te hubiera llamado.”

Correction: Si yo hubiera sabido, te habría llamado. Think of it this way: 'hubiera' goes with 'si' (if). The 'habría' part is the 'then' or the result.

Using a simple past tense for hypotheticals

Mistake: “Si yo supe, te llamé.”

Correction: Si yo hubiera sabido, te habría llamado. For imaginary past situations or 'what ifs', you can't use the regular past tense. You need this special 'hubiera' form to show it didn't really happen.

tendría

VerbB1Neutral
Use 'tendría' when 'would have' implies hypothetical possession or a future outcome based on a present condition.

Examples

Si ganara la lotería, tendría una casa en la playa.

If I won the lottery, I would have a house on the beach.

Conditional vs. Past Hypothetical

The most common mistake is confusing when to use 'habrían/hubiera' for past hypotheticals versus 'tendría' for present/future hypotheticals. Remember that 'habrían' and 'hubiera' are used for things that *did not happen* in the past, while 'tendría' describes a *hypothetical outcome* in the present or future.

Related Translations

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