USE OF SUBJUNCTIVE &
INDICATIVE IN ADVERBIAL
CLAUSES
• An adverb is a word that indicates the
manner, time, place, extent, purpose, or
condition of a verbal action.
• It usually answers the how? when?
where? or why?
Vamos al cine después.
Let’s go to the movies (when?) afterward.
• A clause that describes a verbal action is
called an adverbial clause.
• It is joined to the main clause by an
adverbial conjunction.
Vamos al cine después de que
ellos cenen.
Let’s go to the movies (when?)
after they have dinner.
Adverbial Clauses: Time
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•
•
•
•
•
•
cuando when
después (de) que after
en cuanto as soon as
hasta que until
mientras (que) while, as long as
tan pronto como as soon as
antes de que before
Future, anticipated outcomes versus present, habitual actions.
• When the actions of the main and subordinate clauses have not yet
occurred (that is, they represent a future action and an anticipated
outcome), the subordinate clause introduced by these adverbial
conjunctions uses the subjunctive.
• When the action of the subordinate clause is habitual, the indiciative
is used. Compare the sentences on the next page.
Future, anticipated:
Subjunctive
-Te van a dar más crédito
después de que pagues el
balance de la cuenta.
Present, habitual:
Indicative
-Siempre te dan más crédito
después de que pagas el
balance de la cuenta.
-They will give you more credit
- They always give you more credit
after you pay off the balance of the after you pay off the balance of the
account. (anticipated)
account. (habitual)
-Piensan cobrar el cheque tan
pronto como se lo demos.
-They’re planning to cash the
check as soon as we give it to
them. (anticipated)
-Todas las semanas, covran el
cheque tan pronto como se lo
damos.
-Every week, they cash the check
as soon as we give it to them.
(habitual)
Future, anticipated:
Subjunctive
Present, habitual:
Indicative
- Compraré acciones cuando
bajen de precio.
-I will buy stocks when the prices
go down. (anticipated outcome)
Siempre compro acciones cuando
-Haga cola hasta que llegue el
cajero.
-Wait in line until the teller arrives.
(anticipated outcome)
Cada mañana, los clientes hacen
bajan de precio.
-I always buy stocks when the
prices go don. (habitual)
cola hasta que llega el cajero.
(habitual action)
Past, anticipated,
unknown:
Subjunctive
Present, known or past,
habitual:
Indicative
- Iban a hacer un viaje alrededor
del mundo después de que ella
terminara el proyecto.
-They were going to make a trip
around the world after she finished
the project. (anticipated
outcome)
Siempre hacíamos un viaje
alrededor del mundo después de
que ella terminaba un proyecto.
(habitual)
Adverbial clauses: Manner and
place
• The subjunctive is used with the following conjunctions
to express speculation about an action or situation that is
unknown to the speaker. The indicative is used to
expressed what is known or has been experienced by
the speaker.
Adverbial clauses: Manner and
place
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•
•
•
•
Aunque —although, even if
Como— as, how
De manera que— in such a way that
De modo que —in such a way that
Donde- where
Unknown situation:
Subjunctive
Known situation:
Indicative
Voy a ir al partido aunque llueva.
-(Meaning of aunque= even if).
(unknown situation)
Voy a ir al partido aunque llueve.
(known situation---I just looked
-El Padre Clemo enseña de
manera que todos podamos
comprender los conceptos.
(unknown outcome/intention
indicated)
-El Padre Clemo enseña de
manera que todos podemos
comprender los
conceptos.(known
outcome/intention indicated)
out the window and it is raining)
Mucho Ojo!!!!
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•
•
•
Mientras
Aunque
De modo que/de manera que
Donde
¿Sabes por qué? ¿Quién determina el
significado?
Interdependence
• Main clause and subordinate clause are
interdependent (an event will not occur
unless the other does too; or one event
happens with a particular purpose) Unlike
previous clauses, these always use the
subjunctive when there’s a change of
subject. If there’s no change of subject,
the “que” is generally dropped, and the
infinitive is used.
Adverbial Conjunctions
that express purpose or
condition
Meaning
A condición de que
A fin de que
A menos que
Con tal (de) que
En caso (de) que
Para que
Sin que
Provided that
So that
Unless
So that
In case that
So that
Without
Ejemplos
• Te presto dinero a condición de que me lo
devuelvas
• Estudio a fin de sacar buenas notas.
• Te doy regalos a fin de que me quieras.
• Para ser feliz, se necesita amar a otros.
• Te doy mi tiempo y atención para que
seas feliz.