Conjunctions That Always Require the Subjunctive
Conjunctions That Always Require the Subjunctive
Unlike cuando, which switches mood depending on context, a small set of Spanish conjunctions demand the subjunctive every single time, with no exceptions to weigh.
Grammar Comparison
Grammar Comparison
A fixed list, no judgment call needed
para que (so that), sin que (without), a menos que (unless), con tal de que (provided that) — always followed by subjunctive
so that, without, unless, provided that — English marks none of these with a special verb form
These conjunctions describe purpose, exception, or condition — ideas that are inherently hypothetical by nature — so unlike cuando, there's no future-vs-habitual decision to make. If you see one of these words, the subjunctive follows automatically, which actually makes them easier to use correctly than cuando once you've memorized the list.
Sin que vs. sin + infinitive
salió sin que lo viera (he left without me seeing him, two different people) vs. salió sin decir nada (he left without saying anything, same person both times)
he left without me seeing him / he left without saying anything — 'without' plus '-ing' either way
Sin que is only used when the subject of the two verbs is different; when the same person is doing both actions, Spanish drops que entirely and just uses sin plus the infinitive. English's 'without' plus '-ing' doesn't make this same-subject/different-subject distinction, so watch for whether the two clauses share an actor before choosing between the two forms.
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
- English
- so that
- English
- without (different subjects)
- English
- unless
- English
- provided that
- English
- in case
- English
- even if it rains
- English
- so that you understand
- English
- unless it rains
- English
- he left without saying anything
- English
- in case you call