Subordinating Conjunctions in Spanish: porque, que, cuando, aunque, and Others

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Conjunctions in Spanish, Spanish – Intermediate

Subordinating conjunctions in Spanish are essential for connecting clauses, providing reasons, expressing conditions, and indicating time. These conjunctions introduce subordinate clauses, which depend on the main clause to complete their meaning. Understanding their usage will significantly improve your fluency in Spanish.

List of Common Subordinating Conjunctions and Their Uses

Below is a list of the most commonly used subordinating conjunctions in Spanish along with their meanings and examples:

Conjunction	Meaning	Example 1	Example 2
porque	because	No salí porque llovía. (I didn’t go out because it was raining.)	Estudio mucho porque quiero aprobar. (I study a lot because I want to pass.)
que	that	Me dijo que vendría. (He told me that he would come.)	Creo que es una buena idea. (I think that it is a good idea.)
cuando	when	Te llamaré cuando llegue. (I will call you when I arrive.)	Cuando era niño, jugaba mucho. (When I was a child, I played a lot.)
aunque	although/even though	Aunque está lloviendo, saldré. (Even though it is raining, I will go out.)	Lo haré aunque no tenga ganas. (I will do it even if I don’t feel like it.)
si	if	Si estudias, aprobarás. (If you study, you will pass.)	Iré si tengo tiempo. (I will go if I have time.)
como	as/since	Lo hice como me dijiste. (I did it as you told me.)	Como hace frío, me pondré un abrigo. (Since it is cold, I will wear a coat.)
porque	because	No fui porque estaba enfermo. (I didn’t go because I was sick.)	Lo hicimos porque era necesario. (We did it because it was necessary.)
mientras	while/as long as	Puedes quedarte mientras quieras. (You can stay as long as you want.)	Mientras yo cocino, tú pones la mesa. (While I cook, you set the table.)
para que	so that	Te lo explico para que lo entiendas. (I explain it to you so that you understand.)	Trabajo duro para que mis hijos tengan una mejor vida. (I work hard so that my children have a better life.)
hasta que	until	No saldrás hasta que termines la tarea. (You will not go out until you finish your homework.)	Esperaré hasta que llegues. (I will wait until you arrive.)

More Example Sentences

No me gusta que llegues tarde. (I don’t like that you arrive late.)
Como no tenía dinero, no compré nada. (Since I had no money, I didn’t buy anything.)
Siempre me llama cuando necesita ayuda. (He always calls me when he needs help.)
Aunque hace frío, no llevo abrigo. (Although it is cold, I am not wearing a coat.)
Si tienes hambre, come algo. (If you are hungry, eat something.)
Se quedó hasta que terminó la película. (He stayed until the movie ended.)
Te hablo despacio para que me entiendas. (I speak slowly so that you understand me.)
Mientras yo limpio, tú organizas la mesa. (While I clean, you organize the table.)
Me gusta que me ayudes. (I like that you help me.)
No salgas hasta que te llame. (Do not go out until I call you.)

Fill in the Blanks

No saldré ______ termine mi tarea.
Te lo explico ______ lo entiendas.
______ estudies, no aprenderás.
Me dijo ______ vendría.
Saldré ______ haga calor o frío.
Esperaré ______ llegues.
______ no vengas temprano, perderemos el tren.
No me gusta ______ me hables así.
Comeré ______ tenga hambre.
Salimos temprano ______ no había tráfico.

Answers

hasta que
para que
Si no
que
aunque
hasta que
Si
que
cuando
porque

Things to Keep in Mind

Word Order: In Spanish, subordinating conjunctions typically introduce the subordinate clause, which follows the main clause.
Verb Tense: Some conjunctions require the use of the subjunctive mood, especially when expressing uncertainty, purpose, or conditions (e.g., “para que” requires the subjunctive: “para que me entiendas”).
Gender and Plurality: Conjunctions themselves do not change based on gender or plurality, but the words around them do. Make sure the verbs and adjectives agree with the subject.
Use of Articles: Articles (el, la, los, las) do not affect subordinating conjunctions, but they must agree with the nouns they accompany.
Common Mistakes: Beginners often confuse “porque” (because) with “por que” (for which) and “por qué” (why). Understanding their differences is crucial.

Conclusion

Mastering subordinating conjunctions in Spanish is essential for fluency, as they help create complex and meaningful sentences. Whether expressing reasons, conditions, or time, these conjunctions enhance communication and improve sentence structure. By practicing with real-life examples and exercises, you can become more confident in using them correctly. Keep practicing and incorporating these into daily conversations to strengthen your command of Spanish!

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