14.2: Subjunctive with adverbial clauses and conjunctions

Question 1

An adverb tells when or how something is done. The following adverbial conjunctions of time require the subjunctive when referring to actions that have not yet occurred. With the exception of antes (de) que, which always requires the subjunctive, when referring to actions that have are already taken place or are habitual, they require the indicative.

antes (de) que - before
cuando - when
después (de) que - after
en cuanto - as soon as
hasta que - until
tan pronto (como) - as soon as

Answer 1

Indicative
Cuando se viaja por avión se tiene que mostrar la identificación.
When one travels by plane, one has to show ID.
Se mudaron tan pronto vendieron su casa.
They moved as soon as they sold their house.
Subjunctive
Cuando salgas de viaje mañana, no olvides tu identificación.
When you leave for your trip tomorrow, don’t forget your ID.
Nos mudaremos tan pronto como vendamos nuestra casa.
We will move as soon as we sell our house.

Question 2

Antes de, después de, and hasta are often used with the infinitive if there is no change of subject. Notice that the que is not necessary.

Answer 2

Antes de poder hacerse ciudadano, Raimundo tiene que vivir en el país por tres años.
Before being able to become a citizen, Raimundo has to live in the country for three years.

Question 3

The following adverbs require the indicative when referring to something that is known or is definite. However, when referring to something that is unknown or indefinite, they require the subjunctive.

aunque - although, even though, even if
como - as, how, however
(a) donde - where, wherever

Answer 3

Quiero ir a África aunque es caro.
I want to go to Africa even though it is expensive.

Quiero ir a África aunque sea caro.
I want to go to Africa even if it is expensive.

Question 4

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

a fin de que - in order that, so that
a menos que - unless
con tal (de) que - as long as; in order that, so that
en caso de que - in case
mientras (que) - as long as; provided that
para que - in order that, so that
siempre y cuando - as long as, provided that
sin que - without

Answer 4

No es posible entrar en el país a menos que tengas una visa.

It is not possible to enter the country unless you have a visa.

Question 5

With the exception of a menos que, mientras (que), and siempre y cuando, the previous expressions are often used with the infinitive if there is no change of subject. The que is not necessary.

Answer 5

Es difícil hablar español muy bien sin estudiar en un país hispano.
It is difficult to speak Spanish really well without studying in a Hispanic country.

Question 6

Investiguemos El Vocabulario
The expressions con tal de que, mientras que, and siempre y cuando have similar translations in English, but their uses are slightly different. Mientras que generally refers to a situation that currently exists. Con tal de que and siempre y cuando both communicate that a condition must be met in order to obtain a positive result; however, con tal de que generally implies that the subject is reluctant to do something but is willing to do it because of the end result.

Answer 6

Rafa se mudó con tal de que sus hijos pudieran ver a sus abuelos.
Rafa moved (reluctantly) so that his children could see their grandparents.
Puedes trabajar siempre y cuando tengas un permiso.
You can work provided that you have a permit.