What is the present perfect subjunctive in Brazilian Portuguese and how to use it?

The Brazilian Portuguese present perfect subjunctive is a compound tense formed by combining the auxiliary verb ter (meaning to have) in the present subjunctive with a past participle. We use the present perfect subjunctive for an event that may or may not have been completed before the moment of speaking or before another event in the future.

Like the present subjunctive, the present perfect subjunctive is triggered by words and phrases expressing wishes, emotions, requests, doubt, and denial. Ready to know more about this verb tense in Brazilian Portuguese? Let's go!

The present perfect subjunctive is a compound verb tense formed combining an auxiliary verb ter (meaning to have) in the present subjunctive and a main verb in its past participle form.

Here is a chart illustrating the full conjugation of the present perfect subjunctive:

It’s simple to form the present perfect subjunctive, isn’t it? Now, let’s get to know how to use this verb tense!

In Brazilian Portuguese, the present perfect subjunctive, like other subjunctive tenses, is mostly used in a subordinate clause.

We use the present perfect subjunctive specifically in two cases:

1. To mention a potential past action that would impact the present.

   Eu duvido que as crianças não tenham chorado.

   Translation: I doubt that the children didn’t cry.

   The crying potentially took place in the past.

2. To mention a potential action that would take place before some specific future moment.

   Eu espero que a Cláudia tenha terminado o projeto quando eu voltar de férias.

   Translation: I hope Claudia has finished the project when I get back from vacation.

   The project should be finished before a future moment (when I get back)

   If the future moment is itself uncertain, you’ll use the future subjunctive.

   Espero que Cláudia tenha terminado o projeto até o fim do mês.

   Translation: I hope that Cláudia will have finished the project by the end of the month.

   The project should be finished come before a future moment (the end of the month).

The grammatical structures that trigger the present perfect subjunctive are similar to the present subjunctive triggers. However, these triggers are used a little differently with the present perfect subjunctive, so let’s look at some examples, and then we can compare the present perfect subjunctive with the present subjunctive more directly.

• Using the present perfect subjunctive after W.E.I.R.D. expressions

  Like the present subjunctive, you can use the present perfect subjunctive after “W.E.I.R.D.” expressions:

  Wishes	Tomara que eles tenham chegado bem. Translation: I hope they arrived well.
  Emotions	Estou surpresa que eles tenham ganhado o campeonato. Translation: I am surprised that they won the championship.
  Impersonal Expressions	É bom que você tenha pagado a conta de luz. Translation: It’s good that you paid the electricity bill.
  Requests	Eu exijo que eles já tenham terminado a reforma. Translation: I require that they have finished the renovation.
  Doubt or Denial	Eu duvido que ela tenha feito o jantar. Translation: I doubt that she made the dinner.

  Take a look at this chart to see more expressions that call the use of the present perfect subjunctive!

• Using the present perfect subjunctive after conjunctions

  Some specific conjunctions require the following verb to be in the subjunctive. They are similar to the ones used with the present subjunctive, though some tend to trigger the present perfect subjunctive specifically. For example:

  • Ainda que eu tenha gostado do filme, não quero assisti-lo novamente.

    Translation: Even though I enjoyed the movie, I don’t want to watch it again.
  • Caso eles já tenham ido, nós teremos que ir de ônibus.

    Translation: In case they have already gone, we will have to go by bus.

  Check out this chart of conjunctions with the present perfect subjunctive to see some more examples.

• Fixed expressions that trigger the present perfect subjunctive

  A couple of fixed expressions can trigger the present perfect subjunctive, including:

  • quem quer que (meaning whoever), o que quer que (meaning whatever)

    O que quer que eu tenha comido, acho que não me fez bem.

    Translation: Whatever I ate, I think it didn’t make me feel good.

  • quer (meaning whether) + present perfect subjunctive + quer não (meaning or not) + main clause

    Quer tenha dormido, quer não, ele continua cansado.

    Translation: Whether he’s slept or not, he’s still tired.

Though the same expressions and conjunctions trigger both the present perfect subjunctive and the present subjunctive, there is a difference in meaning.

• The present perfect subjunctive is used for potential actions that you expect were completed before the moment of speech or before a specific future moment.

• The present subjunctive is used for potential actions that you expect to be happening or concluding at the moment of speech.

See the comparison below.

• present perfect subjunctive

  Espero que eles já tenham terminado a reunião.

  Translation: I hope they have already finished the meeting.

  The potential (subjunctive) action ended before now.
• present perfect subjunctivefuture moment

  Espero que eles já tenham terminado a reunião até a hora que nós chegarmos.

  Translation: I hope they have already finished the meeting by the time we arrive.

  The potential (subjunctive) action will end before a future moment (when we arrive).
• subjunctive

  Espero que eles terminem a reunião agora.

  Translation: I hope they finish the meeting now.

  The potential (subjunctive) action is ending now (or maybe in the future).

Above we’ve seen that the present perfect subjunctive can be paired with a main clause in the present tense, however it can also be paired with a main clause in the preterite, future indicative, or in the imperative, when linked by a conjunction that calls for the present perfect subjunctive. Let’s see the different tense combinations below.

• preterite indicative

  

  conjunction

  

  present perfect subjunctive

  Ele me deu um desconto mesmo que eu não tenha pedido.

  Translation: He gave me a discount even though I didn’t ask for it.

• imperative

  

  conjunction

  

  present perfect subjunctive

  Não saia daqui até que eu tenha terminado de consertar tudo.

  Translation: Don’t leave here until I have finished fixing everything.

• future indicative

  

  conjunction

  

  present perfect subjunctive

  Ele não desistirá antes que tenha completado o circuito.

  Translation: He will not give up until he has completed the circuit.

In this post, we learned that:

• The present perfect subjunctive is a compound tense: ter(present subjunctive) participle.

  Espero que você tenha aproveitado o fim de semana!

  Translation: I hope you enjoyed the weekend!

• The present perfect subjunctive mainly appears in subordinate clauses referencing a completed action that:

  • may have happened in the past.

  • may be completed before a specific moment in the future.

• The present perfect subjunctive shares the same triggers of the present subjunctive:

  • expressions giving wishes, emotions, impersonal expressions, requests, or doubt/denial.

  • some conjunctions and fixed expressions.

• The present perfect subjunctive can be paired with a main clause in the preterite, present, future indicative, or in the imperative.

Espero que você tenha gostado desse post! (meaning I hope you liked this post!) Now you can try out this activity to practice the present perfect subjunctive!