The future subjunctive, hablare or hubiere, presents an action as possible in laws, in literature and in set phrases. The stem is the ellos preterite form without ‑ron, plus ‑re: Quien incumpliere la norma será sancionado. Sea como fuere.
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No information at the current level. This view starts at C2: choose C2 or a higher level.
CheatsheetC2
| Point | Rule | Example | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form | ellos preterite without ‑ron + re | Si procediere, se devolverá el importe. | If applicable, the amount will be refunded. | C2 |
| Endings | re / res / remos / ren | Donde fueres, haz lo que vieres. | When in Rome, do as the Romans do. | C2 |
| Compound form | hubiere + past participle | Si el plazo hubiere vencido, se rechazará la solicitud. | If the deadline has expired, the application will be rejected. | C2 |
| Legal language | a condition or a possible case in the law | Si hubiere una disposición contraria, esta no se aplicará. | If there is a contrary provision, it will not apply. | C2 |
| Literary language | what is possible in verse and in prose | Cuando la noche cayere, volveremos a la orilla. | When night falls, we will go back to the shore. | C2 |
| Set phrases | inherited formulas and proverbs | Venga lo que viniere, estaré contigo. / Sea como fuere, saldremos mañana. | Come what may, I'll be with you. / Be that as it may, we'll leave tomorrow. | C2 |
| Modern usage | the present subjunctive or indicative takes its place | Quien incumpla la norma será sancionado. | Whoever breaks the rule will be penalised. | C2 |
| Trap | the stem comes from the preterite: vieron → viere | Haz lo que vieres. | Do as you see. | C2 |
| Trap | the nosotros form takes a written accent | Si lo hiciéremos juntos, saldrá bien. | If we do it together, it will turn out well. | C2 |
OverviewC2
- It presents an action as possible and later than the time of speaking. Si hubiere una disposición contraria, prevalecerá la ley.If there is a contrary provision, the law will prevail.
- It appears in legal and literary texts and in set phrases.
- It shares its stem with Imperfect Subjunctive; conditions with si: Conditional Sentences.
Form: simple and compoundC2
| Person | hablar | comer | tener | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | hablare | comiere | tuviere | C2 |
| tú | hablares | comieres | tuvieres | C2 |
| él / ella / usted | hablare | comiere | tuviere | C2 |
| nosotros / nosotras | habláremos | comiéremos | tuviéremos | C2 |
| vosotros / vosotrasSpain | hablareis | comiereis | tuviereis | C2 |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | hablaren | comieren | tuvieren | C2 |
- The stem is the ellos preterite form without ‑ron: tuvieron → tuvie.
- Irregular verbs keep the stem of their preterite: fueron → fuere, vieron → viere.
- The nosotros form takes a written accent on the vowel before ‑remos. Si habláremos con él, lo sabremos. / Si comiéremos juntos, pagaremos a medias.If we speak with him, we'll find out. / If we eat together, we'll split the bill.
- The irregular stems: Irregular Verbs Table.
| Person | haber | hablar | comer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| yo | hubiere | hubiere hablado | hubiere comido | C2 |
| tú | hubieres | hubieres hablado | hubieres comido | C2 |
| él / ella / usted | hubiere | hubiere hablado | hubiere comido | C2 |
| nosotros / nosotras | hubiéremos | hubiéremos hablado | hubiéremos comido | C2 |
| vosotros / vosotrasSpain | hubiereis | hubiereis hablado | hubiereis comido | C2 |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | hubieren | hubieren hablado | hubieren comido | C2 |
- The compound form, hubiere with a participle, shows an action before a future moment. Si el plazo hubiere vencido, se rechazará la solicitud.If the deadline has expired, the application will be rejected.
- haber forms its compound like any verb: Si hubiere habido una réplica, constará en el acta.If there has been a reply, it will be recorded in the minutes.
UseC2
| Register | Example | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administrative and legal language: a condition or a case | Quien incumpliere la norma será sancionado. / Si procediere, se devolverá el importe. / Si hubiere una disposición contraria, esta no se aplicará. | Whoever breaks the rule will be penalised. / If applicable, the amount will be refunded. / If there is a contrary provision, it will not apply. | C2 |
| Legal language: a condition fulfilled before a future moment | Si el plazo hubiere vencido, se rechazará la solicitud. / Si hubiere habido una réplica, constará en el acta. | If the deadline has expired, the application will be rejected. / If there has been a reply, it will be recorded in the minutes. | C2 |
| Poetic and literary language: what is possible | Cuando la noche cayere, volveremos a la orilla. / Si algún día me olvidares, recuerda esta tarde. | When night falls, we will go back to the shore. / If you ever forget me, remember this afternoon. | C2 |
| Set phrases and proverbs | Sea como fuere, saldremos mañana. / Venga lo que viniere, estaré contigo. / Donde fueres, haz lo que vieres. | Be that as it may, we'll leave tomorrow. / Come what may, I'll be with you. / When in Rome, do as the Romans do. | C2 |
Latin America
- Latin America: In Latin America, the present or imperfect subjunctive is preferred to these forms even in formal texts.
Comparison: the future subjunctive and modern usageC2
| Future subjunctive | Modern usage | |
|---|---|---|
| Quien incumpliere la norma será sancionado.Whoever breaks the rule will be penalised. | Quien incumpla la norma será sancionado.Whoever breaks the rule will be penalised. | C2 |
| Si hubiere una disposición contraria, esta no se aplicará.If there is a contrary provision, it will not apply. | Si hay una disposición contraria, esta no se aplicará.If there is a contrary provision, it will not apply. | C2 |
| Cuando la noche cayere, volveremos a la orilla.When night falls, we will go back to the shore. | Cuando caiga la noche, volveremos a la orilla.When night falls, we will go back to the shore. | C2 |
| Si el plazo hubiere vencido, se rechazará la solicitud.If the deadline has expired, the application will be rejected. | Si el plazo ha vencido, se rechazará la solicitud.If the deadline has expired, the application will be rejected. | C2 |
| Venga lo que viniere, estaré contigo.Come what may, I'll be with you. | Venga lo que venga, estaré contigo.Come what may, I'll be with you. | C2 |
- The present subjunctive replaces the future after relatives and connectors, and the present indicative after si.
- The present forms: Present Subjunctive: Forms.
Typical errorsC2
| Wrong | Right | Rule | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donde fueres, haz lo que veres. | Donde fueres, haz lo que vieres. | the stem comes from the ellos preterite form: vieron → vieres | C2 |
| Si no tenere tiempo, avisaré. | Si no tuviere tiempo, avisaré. | the stem comes from the ellos preterite form: tuvieron → tuviere | C2 |
| Si lo hicieremos juntos, saldrá bien. | Si lo hiciéremos juntos, saldrá bien. | the nosotros form takes a written accent on the vowel before ‑remos | C2 |