Spanish: An Essential Grammar

Subjunctive required by certain subordinating

conjunctions

The subjunctiveis required by some subordinating conjunctions, when an

action or state has not yet occurred or is denied in some way. Conversely,

if the action or state is presented as something that has already occurred

or that is factual, the indicativemood is likely to be used.

Some types of conjunction always require the subjunctive in a following

clause. With others, both the subjunctive and the indicative are possible,

although the use of one mood rather than the other may change the

meaning of the conjunction.

Conjunctions always followed by the subjunctive

Conjunctions expressing purpose

The most common conjunction of this type is para que‘so that’, but a fin

de que,con el objeto de queand con el propósito de que(all meaning ‘in

order that’) will also be encountered:

Lo pondré aquí para que nadie lo robe.

I will put it here so that no will steal it.

Conjunctions indicating proviso

The two most common are con tal (de) que ‘provided that’ and a condi-

ción de que‘on condition that’:

Lo explicaré de nuevo con tal (de) que todos se callen.

I shall explain it again provided that everyone keeps quiet.

Note: The conjunction siempre querequires the subjunctive when it means ‘provided

that’: siempre que no llueva ‘provided it doesn’t rain’. However, with the indicative

it means ‘whenever’, see 12.2.2.1.

Conjunctions meaning ‘unless’

The main ones are a no ser queand a menos que:

No vamos a poder moverlo a no ser que alguien nos ayude.

We aren’t going to be able to move it unless someone helps us.

12.2.1.3

12.2.1.2

12.2.1.1

12.2.1

(^1111) 12.2
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

1011

1

12111

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

20111

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

30111

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

40

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After

subordinating

conjunctions

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