The subjunctive with conjunctions

The subjunctive with conjunctions

​Conjunctions:
Words or phrases that connect other words and clauses in sentences.

Certain conjunctions:
Introduce adverbial clauses:
How,
Why,
When, and
Where
an event takes place.

​Ejemplo:

​Vamos a visitar al abuelo

antes de que

regrese a Washington.

MAIN CLAUSE

ADVERBIAL CLAUSE

CONJUNCTION

We are going to visit grandpa

before

he returns to Washington.

The subjunctive is used with certain conjunctions to express:

• a hypothetical situation

• uncertainty as to whether an action or event will take place

• a condition that may or may not be fulfilled

​Ejemplo:
Voy al supermercado para que tengas algo de comer.
I'm going to the store so that you'll have something to eat.

​List of conjunctions that ALWAYS require the subjunctive:

• a menos que - unless

• antes (de) que - before

• con tal (de) que - provided that

• en caso (de) que - in case (that)

• para que - so that

• sin que - without

​****ATENCIÓN:
The infinitive (not the subjunctive) is used after the prepositions:
-antes de Te llamo antes de salir.
-para
-sin

Multiple Choice

a menos que

• before

• unless

• provided that

• in case that

​a menos que...

​No voy a la fiesta a menos que tú vayas también

Multiple Choice

No voy a la fiesta a menos que tú vayas.

• I'm not going to the party

• I'm going to the party

• I'm not going to the party unless you go.

• I'm going to the party unless you go.

Multiple Choice

en caso de que

• before

• unless

• provided that

• in case that

​en caso de que...

​Voy a hacer mi tarea hoy en caso de que vayamos a la playa mañana.

Multiple Choice

Voy a hacer mi tarea hoy en caso de que vayamos a la playa mañana.

• I'm going to do my homework today in case that we go to the beach tomorrow.

• I'm not going to do my homework today because I will do it tomorrow

• I don't want to do my homework today, I'll do it tomorrow.

• I want to do my homework early, not tomorrow

Multiple Choice

antes de que

• before

• unless

• provided that

• in case that

​antes de que...

​Necesitamos hacer algo por los animales antes de que se extingan.

Multiple Choice

Necesitamos hacer algo por los animales antes de que se extingan.

• we need to do something for animals.

• We need to do something for animals before they go extinct.

• We don't want to do anything for animals because the are extinct.

• We need to do something for animals because they are extinct.

Multiple Choice

para que

• so that

• unless

• provided that

• in case that

Multiple Choice

con tal de que

• before

• unless

• provided that

• in case that

Multiple Choice

sin que

• before

• unless

• without

• in case that

​CONJUNCTIONS WITH
SUBJUNCTIVE OR INDICATIVE

​-cuando - when
-después de que - after
-en cuanto - as soon as
-hasta que - until
-tan pronto como - as soon as

​The subjunctive is used with the previous conjunctions if:

the main clause expresses a future action or command.

​Van a contaminar los ríos cuando construyan nuevos edificios.
They are going to pollute the rivers when they build new buildings.

​The indicative is used with the previous conjunctions if:

the main clause expresses an action that habitually happens, or that happened in the past.

​Contaminaron el río cuando construyeron ese edificio.
They polluted the river when they built that building.

Fill in the Blanks

Va a llegar tarde cuando ella (salir) ​

del trabajo

Fill in the Blanks

Salimos tarde cuando el profesor (hablar) ​

mucho.

Fill in the Blanks

Corrieron mucho hasta que el entrenador (decir) ​

que paren.