Spanish · Chapter 42 · Lesson 14 · Grammar primer
Connectors of cause, consequence and purpose
porque, ya que and como (cause); por eso, por lo tanto and asi que (consequence); para que and a fin de que + subjunctive (purpose); es decir and o sea (reformulation) - and which need the subjunctive.
The short version
Como means because only at the front
When como carries the sense of because, it has to open the sentence and state the reason before the result: como llovía, no salimos. You cannot slide it into the middle with that meaning, where it would read as how or like. Put the reason second and you switch to porque: no salimos porque llovía.
Como llovía, no salimos.
Cause states a fact, purpose points at a goal
Porque, ya que, como, por eso, así que and por lo tanto all state facts, so they take the indicative. Purpose connectors point at a goal that has not happened yet, so para que, a fin de que and con el fin de que take the subjunctive. Getting that mood wrong is an instant giveaway.
Te lo explico para que lo entiendas.
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