# Future Subjunctive: hablare, hubiere

https://langs123.com/en/spanish/subjuntivo/subjuntivo-futuro/
CEFR C2 · 2026-10-19 · CC BY 4.0, langs123 contributors (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

> 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.

## Cheatsheet

| Point | Rule | Example | English |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Form | ellos preterite without -ron + re | Si procediere, se devolverá el importe. | If applicable, the amount will be refunded. |
| Endings | re / res / remos / ren | Donde fueres, haz lo que vieres. | When in Rome, do as the Romans do. |
| Compound form | hubiere + past participle | Si el plazo hubiere vencido, se rechazará la solicitud. | If the deadline has expired, the application will be rejected. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Modern usage | the present subjunctive or indicative takes its place | Quien incumpla la norma será sancionado. | Whoever breaks the rule will be penalised. |
| Trap | the stem comes from the preterite: vieron → viere | Haz lo que vieres. | Do as you see. |
| Trap | the nosotros form takes a written accent | Si lo hiciéremos juntos, saldrá bien. | If we do it together, it will turn out well. |

## Overview

- 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 compound

| Person | hablar | comer | tener |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| yo | hablare | comiere | tuviere |
| tú | hablares | comieres | tuvieres |
| él / ella / usted | hablare | comiere | tuviere |
| nosotros / nosotras | habláremos | comiéremos | tuviéremos |
| vosotros / vosotras | hablareis | comiereis | tuviereis |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | hablaren | comieren | tuvieren |

- 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 |
| tú | hubieres | hubieres hablado | hubieres comido |
| él / ella / usted | hubiere | hubiere hablado | hubiere comido |
| nosotros / nosotras | hubiéremos | hubiéremos hablado | hubiéremos comido |
| vosotros / vosotras | hubiereis | hubiereis hablado | hubiereis comido |
| ellos / ellas / ustedes | hubieren | hubieren hablado | hubieren comido |

- 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.

## Use

| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |

- 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 usage

| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |

- The present subjunctive replaces the future after relatives and connectors, and the present indicative after si.
- The present forms: Present Subjunctive: Forms.

## Typical errors

| ✗ | ✓ | Rule |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Donde fueres, haz lo que veres. | Donde fueres, haz lo que vieres. | the stem comes from the ellos preterite form: vieron → vieres |
| Si no tenere tiempo, avisaré. | Si no tuviere tiempo, avisaré. | the stem comes from the ellos preterite form: tuvieron → tuviere |
| Si lo hicieremos juntos, saldrá bien. | Si lo hiciéremos juntos, saldrá bien. | the nosotros form takes a written accent on the vowel before -remos |