Spanish subordinate conjunctions

A subordinate conjunction introduces a subordinate clause which is a group of words containing a subject and verb but dependent on a main clause.

Here is a list of the most common Spanish subordinate conjunctions together with some samples sentences I got from spanishdict.com I also indicated whether a verb in subjunctive or indicative should be used.


A fin de que + SUBJUNCTIVE -  in order that, so that

La agarró del brazo a fin de que no se cayera sobre el hielo
He grabbed onto her arm so that she wouldn't fall over on the ice.


A menos que + SUBJUNCTIVE  - unless

A menos que salgamos ahora, llegaremos tarde a la fiesta.
Unless we leave now, we'll be late to the party.


Antes de que + SUBJUNCTIVE or INDICATIVE - prior to

Recuérdame que te dé el libro antes de que te vayas.
Remind me to give you the book before you go.


Así que + INDICATIVE - so, as a consequence

Estaba muy estresado, así que decidí ir al spa para recargar las pilas.
I was very stressed, so I decided to go to the spa to recharge my batteries.


Aunque + INDICATIVE or SUBJUNCTIVE - although, even if, even though

Aunque está lloviendo, el paisaje está precioso.
Even though it's raining, the scenery is beautiful.

Aunque no quedaba mucho tiempo, terminaron la carrera.
Although there wasn't much time left, they finished the race.

Me encantan los partidos de baloncesto aunque no sepa lo que está pasando.
I love basketball games even if I don't know what's going on.

La pizza está rica aunque no es la mejor que he probado.
It's a tasty pizza although it's not the best I've tried.


Como + INDICATIVE - since (expresses cause)

Como no estabas aquí, tomé la decisión por ti.
Since you were not here, I made the decision for you.


Como + SUBJUNCTIVE - if (expresses condition)

Como llegues tarde al examen, no se te dará más tiempo.
If you arrive late for the exam, you will not be given extra time.


Como si + PAST SUBJUNCTIVE - as if, as though

Elisa estaba deprimida. Era como si ya no tuviera ganas de triunfar y ser una estrella.
Elisa was depressed. It was as if she wasn't willing to succeed and become a star anymore.

Mi abuela tiene alzéimer. Me habla como si no me conociera.
My grandmother has Alzheimer's. She speaks to me as though she didn't know me.


Con tal de que + SUBJUNCTIVE - as long as, provided that

Puedes escuchar música con tal de que uses los audífonos.
You can listen to music as long as you use headphones.

Podrá seguir trabajando aquí con tal de que cumpla todos sus deberes.
He will be able to continue working here, provided that he fulfills all his duties.


Cuando + SUBJUNCTIVE or INDICATIVE - when, as, whenever

Cuando hace calor, nos gusta desayunar en el jardín.
When it's hot, we like to have breakfast in the yard.

Justo cuando empezábamos a divertirnos, se cortó la luz.
Just as we were starting to have fun, the lights went out.

Llámame cuando tengas ganas.
Call me whenever you like.


De modo que + INDICATIVE - in such a way that (expresses consecuence)

Entró silenciosamente, de modo que yo no lo oí.
He got in silently in such a way that I didn't hear him.


De modo que + SUBJUNCTIVE - so that (expresses purpose)

Entró silenciosamente, de modo que yo no lo oyera.
He got in silently so that I couldn't hear him.


Desde que + SUBJUNCTIVE or INDICATIVE - since

No lo he vuelto a ver desde que cambió de trabajo.
I haven't seen him since he changed jobs.


Después de que + SUBJUNCTIVE or INDICATIVE - after

Limpia la encimera después de que acabes de lavar los platos.
Clean the countertop after you finish washing the dishes.


Donde + SUBJUNCTIVE or INDICATIVE - where

Estoy en el restaurante donde comimos el otro día.
I'm at the restaurant where we ate the other day.

Sal a donde quieras. A mí no me importa.
Go wherever you want. I don't care.


En caso de que + SUBJUNCTIVE - in the event that, in case

En caso de que el vuelo sea cancelado, pueden tomar el siguiente.
In the event that your flight is canceled, you can take the following one.


Hasta que + SUBJUNCTIVE - untill

No dejará de trabajar hasta que consiga su meta de ventas.
He won't stop working until he reaches his sales goal.


Mientras + INDICATIVE - while

Lavó los platos mientras yo dormía la siesta.
He did the dishes while I took a nap.


Mientras + SUBJUNCTIVE - as long as

Mientras trabaje aquí, nunca podré tomarme unas vacaciones en condiciones.
As long as I work here, I'll never manage to take a proper vacation.

Mientras termines los deberes a tiempo, me da igual que escuches música o no.
As long as you finish your homework on time, I don't mind if you listen to music.


Para que + SUBJUNCTIVE - so that

Deja tu correo electrónico para que podamos mantenernos en contacto.
Leave your email address so that we can stay in touch.


Porque + INDICATIVE - because

Mi hermano está triste porque no ganó el concurso.
My brother is upset because he did not win the contest.


Puesto que + INDICATIVE - since, given that, because, as

Puesto que está lloviendo, no vamos a ir a nadar hoy.
Since it's raining, we're not going swimming today.


Que + INDICATIVE or SUBJUNCTIVE - that

Tenga en cuenta que algunas de estas características son diferentes.
Note that some of these characteristics are different.

No voy a llevar el paraguas. No creo que vaya a llover.
I'm not taking an umbrella. I don't think that it's going to rain.


Si + INDICATIVE - if

Si llueve mañana, cancelaremos el picnic.
If it rains tomorrow, we will cancel the picnic.


Sin que + SUBJUNCTIVE - without

Los programas pueden realizar cambios en el equipo sin que usted lo sepa.
The programs can make changes to your computer without you knowing about it.