Using the Spanish present perfect subjunctive after esperar que to express a completed action in the past

Question

Some of the English answers in this exercise use the past tense in English, and some use the past perfect tense, por ejemplo:

We hope that you HAVE finished it on time. NOT We hope that you finished it on time.

I hope that you booked the restaurant in advance. NOT I hope that you HAVE booked the restaurant in advance.

In English, there may be very little difference, if any, in the meaning of the sentence, but I wonder why in some examples, "have" is used and in others, it is omitted.

Silvia Piriz · Accepted Answer

Hola Gerald R.
Thank you for your thoughtful question! The difference in whether 'have' is included or omitted in the English translation often depends on context and subtle differences in emphasis.
For example:
'We hope that you have finished it on time' implies a stronger link to the present, focusing on the current state of completion.
'We hope that you finished it on time' is more neutral and simply states a past action without emphasizing its present relevance.
In Spanish, the present perfect subjunctive (e.g., esperamos que hayas terminado) inherently carries that "recent past" or "ongoing effect" sense, which is why 'have' is often included in English translations. However, both versions may be acceptable depending on the situation.
Saludos
Silvia

Silvia Piriz · Answer

¡Exacto, Gerald! There isn’t a strict grammatical rule here, but rather a matter of emphasis and nuance. In English, the inclusion of 'have' often highlights a connection to the present or a sense of immediacy. Without 'have', the action is treated as more distant or fully in the past.
In Spanish, this distinction is less ambiguous because the present perfect subjunctive (esperamos que hayas reservado) already implies a recent or relevant past. English translations leave room for flexibility based on how much the writer wants to emphasize that connection.
Hasta pronto
Silvia

Gerald Roberts · Answer

So, if I understand you correctly, there isn't really any rule about this issue, but rather a subjective feeling the writer has regarding where he wants to place the emphasis. ¿Verdad?

Gerald Roberts · Answer

Muchisimas gracias.