In this paragraphe you find a summary of when to use the present subjunctive, the past subjunctive , the present perfect subjunctive and the pluperfect subjunctive .

In order to make this decision you have to answer two questions:

1. What is the tense of the main verb (the verb in the main clause)?

• For our purpose we can divide the Spanish tenses in two subdivisions:

the present set: present, present perfect, future, imperative

the past set: preterite, imperfect, pluperfect, present conditional, past conditional

When did the action of the subordinate clause occur in relation to the time frame of the main clause?
• at the same time?
• after it?
• before it?
• before another action in the past?

This gives us the following combinations:

Tenses of main verb	Relation between subordinate and main clause	Kind of subjunctive in subordinate clause	Example
Present set	Same time After	Present subjunctive	Dudo que me ames. (I doubt that you love me.) Dudo que vengas. (I doubt that you will come.)
	Before main clause	Present Perfect Subjunctive Past Subjunctive	Dudo que hayas comido. (I doubt that you have eaten.) Dudo que Ana estuviera enferma. (I doubt that A. was sick.)
	Before another prior action	Pluperfect Subjunctive	Dudo que Ana hubiera estado enferma antes del concierto. (I doubt that A. had been sick before the concert.)
Past set	Same time After	Past Subjunctive	Dudaba que amaras. (I doubted that you were in love with me.) Dudaba que vinieras. (I doubted that you would come.)
	Before main clause	Pluperfect Subjunctive	Dudaba que hubieras venido. (I doubted that you had come.)