Syntaxdifficulty 2
subordinating-conjunctions
Sentencecomo, cuando, donde, mientras, aunque, pues, así que — link a subordinate clause to a main clause. Note the contrast with their accented interrogative twins (cuando vs cuándo, donde vs dónde, como vs cómo). Several of these (cuando, mientras, aunque, hasta que) trigger the subjunctive when the event hasn't happened yet.
Examples
Voy cuando puedo.
→ I go when I can.
cuando (no accent) — relative time clause.
Vivo donde nací.
→ I live where I was born.
donde — relative place.
Aunque llueva, iremos.
→ Even if it rains, we'll go.
aunque + subjunctive when the event is hypothetical.
Mientras estudiaba, escuchaba música.
→ While I was studying, I was listening to music.
mientras — simultaneous events.
Words in this rule
| Word | English |
|---|---|
| como | as |
| si | if |
| cuando | when |
| pues | well |
| donde | where |
| porque | because |
| mientras | while |
| aunque | though |
Practice Spanish in context
Write AI sentences that force each case of subordinating-conjunctions using your Easy vocab — or read articles where we underline the words that trigger each rule.