pretérito vs presente

R Z.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

pretérito vs presente

Just a terminology question, but why is this called "El Pretérito Perfecto Subjuntivo" instead of "El Presente Perfecto Subjuntivo"? I thought pretérito meant past tense? (It seems to mean past tense in the context of Pretérito Indefinido and Pretérito Imperfecto.) 

Asked 4 years ago
InmaKwiziq team member

Hola R,

in Spanish the tense using haber in the present plus the past participle (he ido, has venido, hemos comprado...) is considered a "past" tense, not a present tense. It is referring to actions that have already started (before the present time), this is why it is part of the "preterite" group; I imagine this is why the word "present" is not used in its name. 

Saludos

R Z.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Then why is the English translation of the tense "present perfect subjunctive"? 

pretérito vs presente

Just a terminology question, but why is this called "El Pretérito Perfecto Subjuntivo" instead of "El Presente Perfecto Subjuntivo"? I thought pretérito meant past tense? (It seems to mean past tense in the context of Pretérito Indefinido and Pretérito Imperfecto.) 

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