Hubiera (en. Had)

/uˈβjeɾa/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishSpanish

verb

It is used to express actions that could have happened in the past.

If I had known, I would have arrived sooner.

Si hubiera sabido, habría llegado antes.

Indicates a condition that was not met.

If I had had money, I would have bought a car.

Si hubiera tenido dinero, habría comprado un coche.

Used in hypothetical or polite sentences.

I would have liked to go to the party.

Me hubiera gustado ir a la fiesta.

Grammatical form that shows doubt or possibility in the past.

If he had studied, he would have passed the exam.

Si él hubiera estudiado, habría aprobado el examen.

Originating from the Latin 'habere', which means to have or to be.

if I had known

Indicates that had knowledge been possessed, one could have acted differently.

si hubiera sabido

I would have liked

Expresses a wish or preference that was not fulfilled.

me hubiera gustado

if only I had...

Introduction to a lament or regret about an unfulfilled action.

si tan solo hubiera...

haber

Auxiliary verb used in the formation of compound tenses.

haber

hubo

Third person singular of the simple past perfect tense of the verb haber.

hubo

hubiese

Less common alternative of 'hubiera'.

hubiese

Used in a colloquial context to talk about things that did not happen.

I didn’t know you were going to invite me; if I had known, I would have gone.

Yo no sabía que me ibas a invitar, si lo hubiera sabido, hubiera ido.

Expresses nostalgia for something that did not happen.

I would have preferred to stay home rather than go out.

Hubiera preferido quedarme en casa en lugar de salir.