desde que since siempre que whenever
después (de) que after una vez (que) once
With the exception of antes (de) que(see 12.2.1.6), the subjunctive is only
used when the subordinate verb refers to future time:
Siguieron luchando hasta que se rindieron los enemigos.
They continued to fight until their enemies surrendered.
Debemos seguir luchando hasta que nuestros enemigos se
rindan.
We must continue fighting until our enemies surrender.
Cuando sale el equipo les dan una calurosa bienvenida.
Whenever the team comes out they give them a warm welcome.
Cuando salga el equipo les darán una calurosa bienvenida.
When the team comes out they will give them a warm welcome.
No me ha hablado desde que llegó.
He has not spoken to me since he arrived.
Una vez que llegue, vamos a discutirlo.
Once he arrives we will discuss it.
Notes:
1 The conjunction mientras‘while/as long as’ represents an exception to the
general rule concerning temporal conjunctions. It is routinely used with the
indicative even when the subordinate verb refers to future time, especially when
it cannot be translated by ‘as long as’: Voy a estudiar mientras duermes al niño
‘I’m going to study while you get the baby off to sleep’. On the other hand, mien-
trasdoes call for the subjunctive when ‘while’ and ‘as long as’ are alternative
translations: Mientras viva no va a abdicar la corona ‘As long as she lives she
will not give up the crown’. When it refers to past events mientrasis, of course,
followed by an indicative tense.
2 After esperar andaguardar‘to wait’,a queis commonly used instead of hasta
que when the subjunctive is required: ¡Espere a que se abra el banco!‘Wait until
the bank opens!’
Concessive conjunctions
Concessive conjunctions are those that mean ‘although/even if’. By far the
most common concessive conjunction is aunque. This usually takes the
indicativeif the clause that follows is factually true (when English uses
‘although’) and it takes the subjunctivewhen the clause that follows is
hypothetical (when English uses ‘even if’).
12.2.2.2
1111
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
41111
After
subordinating
conjunctions
155
