El subjuntivo con cláusulas adverbiales 1

Adverbial clauses are dependent clauses that tell where, when, why, or how, and begin with a conjunction.

1. The following adverbial conjunctions always require the subjunctive. Because they indicate that the action is dependent upon another action, the outcome is unknown.

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2. Note that the expressions con tal de que, mientras que, and siempre y cuando translate as as long as in English, yet their uses differ. While con tal de que and siempre y cuando both communicate that a condition must be met in order to obtain a positive end result, con tal de que generally implies that the subject doesn’t really want to do it but is willing to because of the end result. Mientras que, however, generally refers to a situation that currently exists.

• Javier va a tener dos empleos con tal de que sus hijos puedan estudiar.
• Javier is going to have two jobs (although he really doesn’t want to) so that his children can study.
• Javier va a continuar con dos empleos siempre y cuando sus hijos sigan estudiando.
• Javier is going to continue to have two jobs as long as his children continue to study.
• Javier va a seguir trabajando para la compañía mientras (que) gane un buen sueldo.
• Javier is going to continue working for the company as long as he continues to earn a good salary.

3. With the exception of a menos que, the adverbial conjunctions in the previous section are often used with the infinitive if there is no change of subject. The que after the preposition is omitted.

• Antes de votar debes informarte.
• Before voting, you should become informed.
• No podemos simplemente mirar sin hacer nada.
• We can’t simply watch without doing anything.

4. These adverbial conjunctions require the indicative because they communicate something that is perceived as a fact.

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