Subjuntivo - Using the Spanish Subjunctive with Conjunctions and Relative Pronouns

The subjunctive is usually considered the most difficult Spanish verb form for students, but hopefully this lesson will simplify matters for you. In Parts I and II, we learned about Spanish subjunctive conjugations. In Part III, we looked at using the Spanish subjunctive with verbs and impersonal expressions. In Part IV, we'll examine the subjunctive with conjunctions and relative pronouns, and in Part V, we'll look at the subjunctive in adjective clauses.

The Spanish subjunctive is required after a number of common conjugations and relative pronouns, whereas its usage is optional after others.

  
I. Conjunctions which require the subjunctive:

a condición de que	on the condition that
a fin de que	so that
a menos que	unless
antes (de) que	before
con tal (de) que	provided that
en caso de que	in case
ojalá que	hopefully
para que	so that
por miedo de que	for fear that
siempre que	provided that
sin que	without

  
II. Conjunctions of time take the indicative when the action in the subordinate clause is either habitual or in the past. The subjunctive is used when the main clause is a command or in the (potential) future:

así que	as soon as
cuando	when
despues de que	after
en cuanto	as soon as
hasta que	until
luego que	as soon as
tan pronto como	as soon as

For example...

Trabajé hasta que mis niños me llamaron.	I worked until my kids called.
Trabajo hasta que mis niños me llaman.	I (usually) work until my kids call.
Trabaja hasta que tus niñols te llamen.	Work until your kids call.
Trabajaré hasta que mis niños me llamen.	I'll work until my kids call.

  
III. Conjunctions of (un)certainty may be followed by the indicative or the subjunctive, depending on the certainty and reality of the subordinate clause.

aunque	although
como	how
de manera que	so that
de modo que	so that
donde	where
mientras que	while, until
quizás	perhaps
según	according to

For example...

Quizás tu puedes hacerlo.	Maybe you can do it (I think you can).
Quizás tu puedas hacerlo.	Maybe you can do it (but I doubt it).
Yo vengo aunque no tengo dinero.	I'll come even though I don't have any money (I know I don't).
Yo vengo aunque no tenga dinero.	I'll come even if I don't have any money (I don't know if I have any).
Hágalo como quiere.	Do it the way you want to (you've already told me how).
Hágalo como quiera.	Do it the whatever way you want to (I don't know how that is)

  
IV. Conjunctions which do not take the subjunctive express facts which are considered certain:

así como	just as, in the same way
porque	because
ya que	since, as

©   Laura K. Lawless
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