Subordinators: the map and their moods

Explanation

Subordinating conjunctions link a dependent clause to the main one, grouped by meaning: time (cuando, en cuanto, hasta que, mientras), cause (porque, ya que, como), purpose (para que, a fin de que), condition (si, con tal de que, a menos que, en caso de que), concession (aunque, a pesar de que), and manner (como, según).

A mood cheat-sheet: some are always subjunctive — para que, antes de que, sin que, a menos que, con tal de que, en caso de que. Some never trigger it — porque (it asserts a real cause), and si in real conditions (si + present). And several switch mood with the meaning — cuando, en cuanto, hasta que, mientras, aunque (future/hypothetical → subjunctive; habitual/factual → indicative).

Many of these pair with de + infinitive instead when the two clauses share a subject: antes de salir, en caso de no poder, con tal de ganar — saving the full que + subjunctive for a subject change.

Examples

Related rules

• Cuando + subjunctive for the future
• Para que + subjunctive: so that
• Because: porque, como, ya que, pues