Conjunctions - Spanish (Mexico)

Understanding conjunctions is crucial for connecting phrases and clauses in Spanish. They help in forming coherent and complex sentences, which can convey more detailed information or relationships between ideas.

Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions connect elements of the same category, like two nouns, adjectives, or clauses. Here are some key coordinating conjunctions:

• y: Similar to "and" in English, it joins words or phrases in a list or sequence.

  Ejemplo: Tengo manzanas y naranjas.

• pero: Used like "but" to contrast ideas or clauses within a sentence.

  Ejemplo: Quiero ir al cine, pero tengo que trabajar.

• aunque: Functions like "although" or "even though," introducing a contrast.

  Ejemplo: Aunque está lloviendo, saldré a correr.

• bien: Commonly paired with "que" as in bien... que, expressing alternatives.

  Ejemplo: Puedes ir en bicicleta bien al parque, que a la playa.

• pues: Works like "then" or "since," often indicating a conclusion or explanation.

  Ejemplo: Llegué tarde, pues el tráfico fue terrible.

Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating conjunctions connect a dependent clause to a main clause, providing more detail or context to a statement. Some essential subordinating conjunctions include:

• que: Used to introduce a subordinate clause. It’s the most common and can be quite versatile.

  Ejemplo: Sé que estás cansado.

• si: Means "if," used to introduce conditional sentences.

  Ejemplo: Si vas a la tienda, trae leche.

• aunque: Also appears as a subordinating conjunction, meaning "even though" or "although."

  Ejemplo: Aunque no tengo hambre, comeré algo.

• cuando: Means "when," introducing a temporal relationship between events.

  Ejemplo: Llámame cuando llegues.

• después de que: Translates to "after," indicating a sequence of events.

  Ejemplo: Salimos después de que terminó la película.

• mientras: Means "while" or "as long as," often indicating simultaneous actions.

  Ejemplo: Estudia mientras escuchas música.

• para que: Functions similarly to "so that," expressing purpose.

  Ejemplo: Anota los detalles para que no los olvides.

• puesto que: Similar to "since" or "because," providing reasoning or explanation.

  Ejemplo: No asistirá, puesto que está enfermo.

• en cuanto: Translates to "as soon as," stressing immediacy or priority.

  Ejemplo: Te llamo en cuanto llegue a casa.

Coordinating and subordinating conjunctions are essential for complex sentence structures, allowing rich descriptions and nuanced explanations. They are foundational in expressing cause and effect, contrast, and other relationships in Spanish.