Ch 28 · Lesson 10Spanish · Chapter 28 · Lesson 10 · Grammar primer
Para que, sin que, a menos que: always the subjunctive
A purpose or a condition is never a fact, so , , a , and always take the subjunctive. With one subject, the infinitive: .
The short version
, , a : always subjunctive
.
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A purpose or a condition is never stated as a fact, so these conjunctions take the subjunctive every time: , , a , , . When the same person does both things, drop the and use the infinitive: .
Purpose: para que and a fin de que
A purpose is an aim, not a fact, so (so that) takes the subjunctive every time. A means the same and sounds formal:
.- I'm telling you so that you know..- I speak slowly so that they understand me..- I'm giving you the map so that you don't get lost.
and take the subjunctive for an aim and the indicative for a result that happened:
| Meaning | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| an aim | . | Speak up so that everyone hears you. |
| a result | , . | I shut the door, so the cold didn't get in. |
Conditions: a menos que, con tal de que, en caso de que
A condition is offered, not stated as fact, so these take the subjunctive every time. There is no indicative version to learn:
| Means | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| unless | . | I'm not going unless you come. |
| unless | . | I'm not going out unless it stops raining. |
| provided that | . | I'll do it provided you help me. |
| in case | . | Take an umbrella in case it rains. |
| without | . | He left without anyone seeing him. |
| as long as | . | I'll lend you the car as long as you look after it. |
Con , without the , is also correct. has a second meaning, whenever, and then it describes a habit, so it takes the indicative:
, .- Whenever I come, we eat together.
Same subject: an infinitive instead
, sin and normally have a second subject. When the same person does both things, drop the and use the infinitive:
| Subjects | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| one | . | I study to pass. |
| two | . | I'm helping you so that you pass. |
| one | . | I left without saying anything. |
| two | . | I left without them saying anything. |
| one | . | I have dinner before going out. |
| two | . | I have dinner before you go out. |
" " is wrong when the person studying is the one passing.
Going further: Adverbial clauses at a glance and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
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