March 2017
A Native Speaker wrote:you have to learn how to use "hubiera" vs "hubiese"
A Lovely NNS wrote:I totally agree with you. The reason why it is considered easy to learn is that it's fairly easy to speak bad Spanish...
Reineke quoting other natives instructing a learner:
I didn't want to comment, but...
" Long story short and without many complicated grammar details, "hubiera" y "hubiese" are basically of the same in meaning. The most obvious difference, aside of spelling, is the most elevated, literature-like quality of the second one. It can be used in some sophisticated kinds of poetry or prose. In common speech it may hint to a certain extent to the pretentiousness on the speaker's part, but this will be judged mostly upon context...
As a native speaker, I normally stick to the "hubiera" form (97% of the times), unless I want to attain some speech/writing effect.
Hope to have contributed with one or two ideas here.
Rodrigo"
"Whenever I have used "hubiera" speaking with people from Spain, they invariably repeat (or correct) my phrase using "hubiese". Not so with those from Latin America."
"Thanks, all, for your comments. I had thought, incorrectly, that the difference might have been due to Spain vs. Latin America. It's easy to come up with wrong conclusions when you generalize from a limited set of experiences."
"The -era forms are more common from my own experience. The -ese forms are still used and this will depend on verb and region. For example, in the DR I've seen hubiese used along with hubiera however you really only see tuviera and almost never tuviese."
"It's totally regional. For example, in my experience, it's one of the strongest differences between Colombian and Venezuelan Spanish. Is Colombians prefer -era by far (in speech and writing) while Venezuelans use -ese much more."
Different sources.
Plenty of sources mention that they are interchangeable.
I've heard both, including in one "latino" show where both forms were used in two consecutive, almost identical sentences. Words (and cartoons) are funny that way. I normally don't pay active attention to forms but that one surprised me.
Spanish is a pluricentric language. Trying to conform to different language variants and native idiolects will make you madder than the March Hare. I'll let you guys settle the questions of the hardest easy language and the easiest easy language.