Conditional Perfect in Spanish

The Conditional Perfect in Spanish – PT 2

Now that you have studied the Conditional Perfect in Spanish we will continue by making negative sentences. To make negative sentences with the Conditional Perfect in Spanish we need to add “no” before the conditional conjugated form of “haber”. In the English Past Conditional Tense which is the equivalent to the Conditional Perfect in Spanish, the word “not” is used to make negative sentences.

For example:

1. No habrías llamado a ese carpintero, de haber sabido que yo conozco uno mejor
(You would not have called that carpenter, had you known I know a better one.)

OBJECT PRONOUNS:
Follow the same rule for object pronouns as with the negative sentences; the object pronoun is placed right before the conjugated form of “haber” like this: Pronoun+ haber (conditional conjugation) +Participle. And to make negative sentences using object pronoun place “no” first like this:  No+pronoun+haber (conditional conjugation) +participle:

 Take a look at this example dialogue:

 SPANISH
-Me alegra que Mauricio no haya tocado la pared. Se le habrían ensuciado las manos con pintura. Y, ¿con qué se las habría lavado?

- La pintura ya está seca. No se le habrían ensuciado.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
– I am glad Mauricio didn’t touch the wall. His hands would have gotten dirty with paint. And, what would he have used to wash it off?

- The paint is already dry. He would not have gotten dirty.

For added clarity take a look at the following examples:

1. No debiste usar la bolsa rota. No se te habrían perdido las llaves.
(You shouldn’t have used the ripped purse. You would not have lost the keys.)
2. No te diste cuenta cuando llegué. ¿Te habrías levantado?
(You didn’t notice when I arrived. ¿Would you have gotten up?)
3. Susana no lo habría hecho como yo lo hice.
(Susana would not have done it like I did it.)
4. ¿No nos habríamos demorado menos por el otro camino?
(Wouldn’t we have taken less time through the other way?)

Now you know how to make negative sentences and how to use object pronouns with the Conditional Perfect in Spanish. Take your time to review the Conditional Perfect in Spanish and practice it so you can use it in your next Spanish conversation.

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