March 18, 2021 by Olga Put Spanish Grammar 0 comments

9 Types of Subordinating Conjunctions in Spanish That Will Supercharge Your Fluency

If you consider your Spanish level to be intermediate or higher, you must add subordinating conjunctions to your linguistic skills.

Subordinating conjunctions let us construct more complex phrases and are an indicator of fluency.

I’m here to help remind you what conjunctions are and what types you find in Spanish. Then, we’ll jump directly into the subordinating conjunctions pool.

I’ll also show you what mood to use after the subordinating conjunctions, as the indicative vs subjunctive dilemma comes into play here.

¿Listo? Let’s get started!

Are You a Visual Learner? Watch Our Video on Subordinating Conjunctions in Spanish!

What are Conjunctions?

Conjunctions are words used to connect other words, clauses, and sentences. Sometimes, we talk about conjunctive expressions, which are two or more words combined that work as conjunction.

In Spanish, there are two main conjunction groups:

Coordinating conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions connect two words, clauses, or sentences of equal value. If you separate them, they can still exist individually.

To learn more about coordinating conjunctions, check out

Now, let’s focus on today’s topic: Spanish subordinating conjunctions.

What are Subordinating Conjunctions?

Subordinate conjunctions also introduce subordinate clauses. This means that the clause introduced by the subordinate conjunction depends on the main clause. It won’t make any sense by itself.

There are 9 types of subordinating conjunctions. Let’s take a look at each and see how they work in a sentence.

1. Causal Conjunctions

Causal conjunctions introduce a clause with a reason or cause of the action in the main clause. The indicative mood always follows. They translate to “because,” “since,” or “as.”

Conjunctions	Indicative / Subjunctive
como – since, as	Indicative
dado que – since, as
Porque – because, since, as
Pues – because, since, as
puesto que – because, since, as
visto que – since, as
ya que – since, as

Como a Juan no le gustan las verduras, come mucha fruta para cuidar su salud.
Since Juan doesn’t like vegetables, he eats a lot of fruit to take care of his health.

Dado que no sé francés, intento comunicarme en otros idiomas.
Since I don’t know French, I try to communicate in other languages.

Tengo poco dinero, pues lo he gastado todo.
I have little money because I have spent it all.

A mí me encanta el helado porque me refresca.
I love ice cream because it refreshes me.

Note that como always appears in the first clause, which goes before the main clause. On the other hand, porque always opens the second clause, after the main clause.

2. Conjunctions of Comparison

The clause introduced by a conjunction of comparison expresses a comparison with the main clause.

You’ll use either the subjunctive or indicative mood after conjunctions of comparison, depending on the degree of reality. Hypothetical situations always require the subjunctive mood.

Conjunctions	Indicative / Subjunctive
que – than	Indicative (the situation is real)
como si – as if	Subjunctive (hypothetical situation)
sin que – without	Subjunctive (hypothetical situation)

Hago pasteles mejor que cocino.
I make cakes better than I cook.

Hago pasteles como si fuera un gran pastelero.
I make cakes as if I were a great pastry chef.

Podemos hacerlo sin que tengamos que esforzarnos demasiado.
We can do it without having to try too hard.

3. Relative Conjunctions

Relative conjunctions in Spanish translate to “if” or “that” in English.

Si is always followed by the indicative mood, but you have to be careful with que. If the main clause is positive, the subordinated clause will have an indicative mood. If the main clause verb is negative, subjunctive will follow.

Conjunctions	Indicative / Subjunctive
si – if, whether	Indicative
que (positive) – that
que (negative) – that	Subjunctive

Me pregunto si queiro salir hoy por la noche.
I wonder if I want to go out tonight.

No sé si me amas.
I don’t know if you love me.

Creo que ya tienes este libro.
I think you already have this book.

No creo que lo tengas.
I don’t think you have it.

4. Conjunctions of Concession

You will use conjunctions of concession to contradict the main clause.

Conjunctions	Indicative / Subjunctive
aunque – although	Indicative (the main clause action happens despite the subordinate clause)
aun cuando – although, even though
si bien – while
Aunque – though, although	Subjunctive (The main clause action happens independently of the subordinate clause, can be hypothetical.)
Así – even if
por más que – no matter how (much)
por mucho que – as much as

As you can see from the table, the concession conjunction can be followed both by an indicative and subjunctive mood. However, the meaning will change.

Let’s first look at the situations with the indicative mood when the action in the main clause happens despite the subordinate clause.

Ella lee mucho aunque le duelen los ojos.
She reads a lot even though her eyes hurt.

Ella lee mucho aun cuando le duelen los ojos.
She reads a lot even when her eyes hurt.

Si bien es importante leer mucho, no puedes descuidar la salud de tus ojos.
While it is important to read a lot, you cannot neglect the health of your eyes.

If the subjunctive follows, the situation turns future situations hypothetical.

Aunque llores, no vas a cambiar su decisión.
Even if you cry, you will not change his decision.

Por más que te esfuerces, no va a cambiar nada.
No matter how hard you try, it won’t change anything.

Por mucho que lo quieras, no puedes olvidarte de ti misma.
As much as you love him, you cannot forget about yourself.

Así pidas mucho, no creo que te lo den.
Even if you ask for a lot, I don’t think they will give it to you.

5. Conjunctions of Result

Conjunctions of result introduce the effect or consequences of the action from the main clause.

You use the indicative mood to talk about past or future results. Possible or hypothetical results must use the subjunctive.

Conjunctions	Indicative / Subjunctive
que – that	Indicative
así (es) que – so
de modo / manera / forma que – that
de modo / manera / forma que – in a way that	Subjunctive (imagined result)

Tenía tanta sed que bebí toda la botella de un trago.
I was so thirsty that I drank the entire bottle in one gulp.

Somos tres, así que alguien tendrá que quedarse en casa.
There are three of us, so someone will have to stay home.

Hay tantas variedades de manzanas de manera que es difícil acordarte de las que más te gustan.
There are so many varieties of apples that it is difficult to remember which ones you like best.

Hay que instalarlos de manera que sean accesible hasta para los niños pequeños.
They must be installed in such a way that they are accessible even to young children.

6. Conjunctions of Condition

Conjunctions of condition are used in conditional sentences in Spanish and are always followed by the subjunctive mood in hypothetical situations. Easy to remember.

Conjunctions	Indicative / Subjunctive
si – if	Subjunctive (hypothetical situation)
como -if
a menos que – unless
con tal de que – as long as
siempre que – as long as
siempre y cuando – as long as
salvo que – unless
cada vez que – whenever
Mientras – if, as long as

Si tuviera dinero, te compraría una casa.
If I had money, I would buy you a house.

Como repruebes el examen, te quitaré el iPad.
If you fail the exam, I’ll take your iPad away from you.

Te prestaré mi coche, siempre que lo llenes de gasolina.
I’ll lend you my car, as long as you fill it up with gas.

Tienes que prestarme más atención, a menos que quieras enojarme.
You have to pay me more attention unless you want to make me angry.

Te lo leo con tal de que tú me prepares un café.
I’ll read it to you as long as you make me a coffee.

Lo haré mientras no tenga otras opciones.
I will do it if I have no other options.

Cada vez que pueda, te visitaré.
Whenever I can, I will visit you.

7. Conjunctions of Purpose

You use the conjunctions of purpose to talk about intentions or goals of the main clause actions. The subjunctive is obligatory.

Conjunctions	Indicative / Subjunctive
para que – so that	Subjunctive
a fin de que – so that

Te lo dije para que lo entiendas de una vez por todas.
I told you so so that you’d understand once for all.

Ahorramos a fin de que podamos comprar una propiedad.
We’re saving so that we can buy a property.

8. Illative Conjunctions

Illative conjunctions have the most mysterious name, but they simply introduce something that can be inferred from the main clause action. It’s like in English: He must be asleep, for I can hear no noises.

Always use the indicative mood with the illative conjunctions!

Conjunctions	Indicative / Subjunctive
luego – therefore	Indicative
conque – so

Pienso, luego existo.
I think, therefore I exist.

Hay muchas nubes, conque vamos a mojarnos seguro.
There are many clouds, so we are going to get wet for sure.

9. Conjunctions of Time

Conjunctions of time determine the time point or time period of the action in the main clause.

If you are still not sure about how to use the subjunctive mood, use mientras, as it’s always followed by the indicative mood.

Conjunctions	Indicative / Subjunctive
mientras – while	Indicative
luego que – after (that)	Subjunctive

Luego que me digas si puedes, saldremos o no.
After you tell me if you can, we will go out or not.

Mientras cocinas, yo haré mi tarea.
While you cook, I’ll do my homework.

Practice Time

Well done! You have gone through the theory of subordinating conjunctions in Spanish and you are that much closer to your fluency objectives. However, it is a lot to take in one sitting, and you should practice as much as you can, especially the subjunctive vs indicative dilemma. (A Simple Guide to Subjunctive vs. Indicative in Spanish may help!)

Sign up for a free class to polish your subordinating conjunctions with one of our friendly, professional teachers from Guatemala. Just remember to tell your teacher that you want to focus on subordinating conjunctions.

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Olga Put

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

I'm a Spanish philologist, teacher, and freelance writer with a Master's degree in Humanities from Madrid. I speak Polish, Spanish, and English fluently, and want to get better in Portuguese and German. A lover of literature, and Mexican spicy cuisine, I've lived in Poland, Spain, and Mexico and I'm currently living and teaching in Madeira, Portugal.