we find the "Preterito compuesto" often used
instead of the Past Definite--

1. When the period, although entirely past, is not defined, as--

Le ha facturado la quincalla: He invoiced him the smallware.

2. When although entirely past and definite, it is very recent, as--Se
lo he dicho hace un momento: I told him a moment ago.

N.B.--Plegue a Dios que el ano que hoy empieza sea mas feliz que lo ha
sido el pasado: May it please God that the year which commences to-day
may be happier than the last has been (Grammar of the Academy).[153]

[Footnote 153: Here the Present Perfect is used in both languages,
because _the effects reach up to the present moment_.]

The English Compound Past--"I had spoken"--is rendered by "yo habia
hablado" or "yo hube hablado."

"Yo habia hablado" is in general use.

"Yo hube hablado" is used only after _cuando, luego que, inmediatamente
que_; viz., when the action is represented as _immediately_ preceding
another.

N.B.--The Past Def. Simple may always take its place.

Cuando hube declarado mis intenciones, Cuando declare mis intenciones,
se convencio--When I declared my intentions, he was convinced.

The =Future Indicative=, (as well as the =Conditional Mood=) are used in
Spanish oftener than in English to denote probability, as--

Habra 20 hombres aqui: I dare say there are 20 men here.

?Le habre dado este derecho? Have I, perchance, given him this right?

?Tendria miedo talvez? Was he afraid, perhaps?

The =Future Progressive=, is not used in Spanish when its place may be
taken by the ordinary Future Simple, as--

Le escribire manana: I shall be writing him to-morrow.

But--

Cuando el venga yo estare escribiendo: When he comes I shall be writing.

The =Present Subjunctive= in Spanish refers to time present or future;
for time future, its place may be taken by the future Subj. (little
used).[154]

[Footnote 154: Except after "cuando" (but not in conversation), as--Se
lo dire cuando venga _or_ cuando viniere: I shall tell it him when he
comes. The Fut. Subj. is also used (not in conversation) after _si_
instead of Pres. Indic., as--Le servire si la ocasion se ofrece _or_ se
ofreciere: I shall serve him if the occasion presents itself.]

=Use of Tenses of the Subjunctive Mood=.

The verb in the Subj. Mood is put in the Present tense when the
preceding verb is in the Pres. Indic., Future Indic. (simple) or
Imperative, as--

Quiero que el lo haga: I want him to d