Conjunctions in Spanish Grammar

Coordinating conjunctions in Spanish

Coordinating conjunctions connect two elements of equal value. They can connect words, phrases or complete sentences.

We can divide the coordinating conjunctions into different groups:

• cumulative conjunctions introduce additional information. The cumulative conjunctions in Spanish are: y (e before i- or hi-); ni; ni ... ni; tanto… como…; así como…; igual… que…; lo mismo… que…; no solo…, sino también…and; nor; neither ... nor; as much as; considering that; as; the same as; not only ... but also

  Example:

  Cristina es de Valencia y su marido de Murcia.Cristina is from Valencia and her husband is from Murcia.

• adversative conjunctions contrast ideas or offer corrections and clarifications. The adversative conjunctions in Spanish are: pero, mas, sino (que).These all translate as but

  Example:

  Cristina está de vacaciones, pero/mas su marido se ha quedado en casa.Cristina is on holiday, but her husband has stayed home.

  El marido de Cristina no está de vacaciones pero/mas ella sí.Cristina’s husband isn’t on holiday but she is.

  pero can be followed by a positive or negative sentence

  El marido de Cristina no está de vacaciones sino en casa.Cristina’s husband isn’t on holiday, but at home.

  El marido de Cristina no está de vacaciones sino que se ha quedado en casa.

  sino is always used after a negative sentence

• disjunctive and alternative conjunctions introduce an alternative or a choice. The most important disjunctive conjunction in Spanish is: o (u before o-, ho-).or Alternative conjunctions in Spanish are made up of two parts. The alternative conjunctions are:: o… o…; bien…, bien…; ya…, ya…; ora…, ora…; sea…, sea…; fuera…, fuera…either... or

  Example:

  Cristina pasea por la playa por las mañanas o por las noches.Cristina walks along the beach in the mornings or in the evenings.

List of Spanish Coordinating Conjunctions

The table below provides an overview of the coordinating conjunctions in Spanish as well as example sentences.

Subordinating conjunctions in Spanish

Subordinate conjunctions introduce subordinate clauses. Depending on the conjunction the subordinate clause can come before or after the main clause.

Example:

Como le encanta el mar, ha pasado las vacaciones en el Mar Mediterráneo.As she loves the she, she spent her holiday at the Mediterranean Sea.

We can organise the Spanish subordinating conjunctions into the following types:

• Causal conjunctions express a cause or a reason related to the main clause. The causal conjunctions in Spanish are porque, como.because, as

  Example:

  Como el marido de Cristina tiene que trabajar, se ha quedado en casa.As Cristina’s husband has to work, he stayed home.

  como always comes before the main clause, then the subordinate clause and main clause are separated by a comma.

  El marido de Cristina se ha quedado en casa porque tiene que trabajar.Cristina’s husband stayed home because he has to work.

  porque never comes at the beginning of the sentence.

• Conjunctions of comparison express a comparison with the main clause. The comparative conjunctions in Spanish are que, como si.than, as if

  Example:

  Cristina viaja más a la costa que cuando era pequeña.Cristina travels to the coast more than when she was young.

• Relative conjunctions introduce subordinate clauses in the same way as that in English. These conjunctions are que, si.that

  Example:

  Creo que Cristina está en de vacaciones.I think that Cristina is on holiday.

• Conjunctions of concession introduce a subordinate clause that contradicts the main clause. These conjunctions are aunque, si bienalthough

  Example:

  Aunque el marido de Cristina tiene que trabajar, ella está de vacaciones.Although Cristina’s husband has to work, she is on holiday.

• Conjunctions of result express the effect or consequences of the main clause. The most typical conjunction of result is quethat

  Example:

  Tenía tantas ganas de ver el mar que se fue de vacaciones al Mediterráneo.She wanted to see the ocean so much that she went on holiday to the Mediterranean.

• Conjunctions of condition express the condition in a conditional sentence. The conjunctions of condition in Spanish are si, como (+ subjuntivo).if + subjunctive

  Example:

  Si Cristina pudiera, se mudaría a la costa.If Cristina could, she would move to the coast.

• Conjunctions of purpose express the intention or aim of the main clause. The most common conjunctions of purpose are para que, a fin de que.so that/in order to/to
  

  Example:

  Cristina se pone crema para que se le cure la quemadura.Cristina puts on cream to heal the burn.

• Illative conjunctions express a logical consequence of the main clause. The illative conjunctions in Spanish are luego, conque, así que.therefore, so

  Example:

  Cristina ha tomado el sol, luego está morena.Cristina has sunbathed, therefore she is tanned.

• Conjunctions of time express the time point or period of the main clause. Two of the most important conjunctions of time in Spanish are mientras y luego que.while, after

  Example:

  Luego que Cristina obtuvo una semana libre, se fue de vacaciones.After Cristina got a week of work, she went on holiday.

Conjunctive Expressions

The majority of subordinating conjunctions are actually conjunctive expressions, which simply means that two or more words are combined to adopt the grammatical function of a conjunction. We can organise them into the following types:

• preposition + que: porque, para que.
• adverb + que: aunque, ahora que, bien que, mientras que, siempre que; así que; ya que.
  
• participle + que: dado que, puesto que, visto que.
• preposition + noun + que: a medida que, de forma que, de manera que.
• preposition + noun + de + que: a causa de que, a fin de que, en razón de que, en vista de que; antes de que.

  Example:

  Está en la playa porque quiere ver la puesta de sol.She is on the beach because she wants to see the sunset.

List of Spanish Subordinating Conjunctions

The table below gives an overview of the subordinating conjunctions in Spanish by type. Examples are also included as well as information as to whether you need to use the indicative or subjunctive.

*Learn more about when to use the indicative or the subjunctive in Spanish in Lingolia’s indicative vs. subjunctive lesson

Indicative or Subjunctive?

Some conjunctions can be used with both the indicative and the subjunctive depending on the context. The following guidelines will help you learn when to use the indicative and when to use the subjunctive.

According to meaning

We use the indicative for facts, real conditions and real scenarios. For example:

- conjunctions of concession: aunque, por más/much que, quealthough

Example:

Aunque me alimento muy sano, tengo falta de hierro.Although I eat healthily, I have low iron.

- conditional conjunctions: siif

Example:

Si llegas el primero al cine, compra las entradas.If you arrive at the cinema first, buy the tickets.

- conjunction of time: mientraswhile

Example:

Saca la basura mientras yo riego las plantas.Take out the trash while I water the plants.

We use the subjunctive for assumptions, unreal conditions and hypothetical situations. For example:

- conjunctions of concession: aunque, aun cuando. por más/mucho que, quealthough

Example:

Aunque llegues tarde a casa, prepárate la cena.Even though you arrived home late, I will make you dinner.

- conditional conjunctions: si, mientrasif, as long as

Example:

Mientras te guste el trabajo, no lo dejes.As long as you like the job, don’t quit.

Te ayudaría si tuviera tiempo.I would help you if I had time.

According to time

We use the indicative with conjunctions of time that refer to the present or past: siempre que, cada vezwhen(ever), every time

Example:

Siempre que tomo el sol, leo una revista.When I read, I read a magazine.

Escucho música mientras leo.I listen to music while I read

We use the subjunctive with conjunctions of time that refer to the future: siempre que, cada vezwhen(ever), every time

Example:

Siempre que cambies una bombilla, corta la luz primero.When you change a lightbulb, turn off the light first.

No uses el teléfono móvil mientras conduzcas.Don’t use your phone when you’re driving.