When to use past vs perfect subjunctive?

ChristyB2Kwiziq community member

When to use past vs perfect subjunctive?

One of the questions connected to this lesson is: No es posible que ________ en la montaña. (It is not possible that they got lost in the mountains.)

The correct answers are given as se perdieran and se perdiesen. But why can't it be se hayan perdido as well?

Asked 5 years ago
InmaKwiziq team member

Hola Christy

"No es posible que se hayan perdido en la montaña" would also be correct. Using the perfect tense, instead of the Imperfecto de Subjuntivo, would simply mean that we see the action as a more "finished" action; as if we were saying "It is possible that they have got lost". Using "...que se perdieran/perdiesen" doesn't necessarily convey that "finished" nuance. 

Hope this helps

Inma

DavidC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

The expression "Es lógico que … " perhaps deserves a  special mention here. My grammar book says that it should take the subjunctive. However, at first glance it almost looks as if it should be treated like "Es verdad que …" which is always followed by the indicative. So it is really a question of learning and remembering that "Es lógico …" is more like giving an opinion rather than stating a certainty.

When to use past vs perfect subjunctive?

One of the questions connected to this lesson is: No es posible que ________ en la montaña. (It is not possible that they got lost in the mountains.)

The correct answers are given as se perdieran and se perdiesen. But why can't it be se hayan perdido as well?

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