Two thoughts in full: cause, condition, purpose, concession
Spanish has many conjunctions but one rule behind them: did the thing happen or not? If it did, the verb is ordinary. If it did not, the verb takes the subjuntivo — the form for what has not come true. For example: “Como no me contestaron, escribí una segunda vez” — Since they did not reply, I wrote a second time. A rule from the Spanish course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
Spanish has many conjunctions but one rule behind them: did the thing happen or not? If it did, the verb is ordinary. If it did not, the verb takes the subjuntivo — the form for what has not come true.
Cause: porque sits inside the sentence, como only at the front. Como no había sitio, nos fuimos. Both take ordinary verbs.
Purpose always takes that second form: te lo digo para que lo sepas. But when one person does both things, que drops out: he venido para hablar contigo.
Condition and concession share one fork. Real: si tengo tiempo, te llamo. Unreal: si tuviera tiempo, te llamaría. Aunque es caro is about an accepted fact; aunque sea caro is about a supposition.
Table
| what it introduces | conjunction | verb form | example |
|---|---|---|---|
| a cause inside the sentence | porque | ordinary | no voy porque llueve |
| a cause at the front | como | ordinary | como llueve, no voy |
| a cause known to both | ya que, puesto que | ordinary | ya que estás aquí, ayúdame |
| a consequence | así que, por lo tanto | ordinary | llueve, así que no salgo |
| purpose, different people | para que | subjuntivo only | te lo digo para que lo sepas |
| purpose, one person | para + infinitive | infinitive | vengo para hablar |
| a real condition | si | present | si puedo, voy |
| an unreal condition | si + imperfecto subj. | condicional in the main clause | si pudiera, iría |
| a concession-fact | aunque + ordinary | ordinary | aunque es tarde, salgo |
| a concession-supposition | aunque + subjuntivo | subjuntivo | aunque sea tarde, salgo |
| opinion | creo que / no creo que | ordinary / subjuntivo | no creo que venga |
By example
- Como no me contestaron, escribí una segunda vezSince they did not reply, I wrote a second time
- Te lo explico otra vez para que no haya dudasI'll explain it to you one more time so there is no doubt
- Aunque sea difícil, hay que intentarloEven if it is hard, it is worth a try
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
Two thoughts in full: how does it work in Spanish?
Spanish has many conjunctions but one rule behind them: did the thing happen or not? If it did, the verb is ordinary. If it did not, the verb takes the subjuntivo — the form for what has not come true.
What does it look like in an example sentence Spanish?
“Como no me contestaron, escribí una segunda vez” — Since they did not reply, I wrote a second time. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.