Conjunctions and the subjunctive
Type the missing word in each sentence. You hear each sentence read by a native voice.
No tiene inconveniente en que .
He has no objection to our leaving.
The rule
These small words can change whether you use the indicative or the subjunctive. With some conjunctions, the choice changes the meaning from a fact to a future possibility.
The pattern
After cuando, use the indicative for habits and completed events. Use the subjunctive for something that has not happened yet.
| Meaning | Pattern |
|---|---|
| Habit or past event | Cuando llego a casa, como. |
| Future event | Cuando llegue a casa, comeré. |
Do not use the future tense after cuando. The future tense goes in the main sentence, not after cuando.
With aunque, the indicative presents a fact. The subjunctive presents a possibility or condition.
| Meaning | Pattern |
|---|---|
| Even though, a fact | Aunque llueve, salimos. |
| Even if, a possibility | Aunque llueva, saldremos. |
These conjunctions always take the subjunctive: para que, antes de que, sin que, a menos que, con tal de que.
These conjunctions take the indicative: porque, ya que, puesto que.
Hasta que and después de que follow the same pattern as cuando. Use the indicative for the past and the subjunctive for the future.
Examples
- Cuando llego a casa, como.When I get home, I eat.
- Cuando llegue a casa, comeré.When I get home, I will eat.
- Aunque llueve, salimos.Even though it is raining, we are going out.
- Aunque llueva, saldremos.Even if it rains, we will go out.
- Te llamo para que sepas la hora.I’m calling you so that you know the time.
- No te vayas antes de que hablemos.Don’t leave before we talk.
- Esperaré hasta que termine la reunión.I will wait until the meeting ends.
- No salimos porque estamos cansados.We are not going out because we are tired.
Watch out
- Cuando llegaré a casa, comeré. Cuando llegue a casa, comeré.Use the subjunctive after cuando for a future event, not the future tense.
- Para que sabes la verdad. Para que sepas la verdad.Para que always takes the subjunctive.
- Aunque llueve mañana, saldremos. Aunque llueva mañana, saldremos.A possible future event takes the subjunctive after aunque.
- Salimos porque estemos cansados. Salimos porque estamos cansados.Porque introduces a reason presented as a fact, so it takes the indicative.