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Unquestionably you already use conjunctions on a regular basis in English—they’re a big a part of any language—however you most likely aren’t conscious of it. As in English, Spanish conjunctions are often brief phrases that deliver loads of punch to your sentences by integrating, contrasting, and including info. A single conjunction can change the complete that means of a sentence or query!

In the present day, you’ll be taught all about conjunctions: what they’re, what they do, and the right way to use them. If you wish to turn into extra expert at Spanish whereas avoiding the grind of memorization, Rosetta Stone’s Dynamic Immersion can assist you grasp Spanish naturally and at your personal tempo. 

What’s a conjunction in Spanish?

Spanish conjunctions unite two phrases or comparable grammatical models. When it comes to syntax, they’re just like the mortar that holds two blocks collectively. Like a building venture, these blocks ought to be of comparable weight so the sentence or phrase is balanced. On the subject of grammar, “weight” implies that the 2 constructing blocks come from the identical grammatical class. 

Conjunctions are helpful in connecting concepts, phrases, sentences, and phrases in order that our language sounds pure and flows effectively. They permit us to have extra refined speech and writing. If you wish to sound extra like a local speaker, it’s necessary to know the right way to use conjunctions accurately. 

What are the three varieties of Spanish conjunctions?

In Spanish grammar guidelines, there are three foremost varieties of conjunctions which embrace: 

1. Coordinating
2. Correlative
3. Subordinating

Let’s check out every inside the framework of English grammar, so you’ve got a transparent understanding of how they work! 

What’s a coordinating conjunction? 

As in English, Spanish coordinating conjunctions be a part of two objects of comparable weight. These may very well be single parts like phrases (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositional phrases) or extra complicated models comparable to phrases or impartial clauses. 

Listed below are a number of examples of coordinating conjunctions in English: 

• Would you want a slice of pie or ice cream? 
• I desire a slice of pie and a scoop of ice cream. 
• I desire a slice of pie however with out the ice cream. 

Within the first two examples, “or” and “and” be a part of two noun phrases collectively. Within the third instance, “however” is adopted by a prepositional phrase. 

Right here’s how a coordinating conjunction works with an impartial clause, or a clause that might stand alone as its personal sentence: 

• Would you want a slice of pie, or would you like the ice cream? 
• I desire a slice of pie, and I would really like a scoop of ice cream with it. 
• I desire a slice of pie, however I don’t need to pay $5.50 for the inside track of ice cream. 

What’s a correlative conjunction? 

In English and in Spanish, correlative conjunctions at all times work in pairs! Collectively, they glue collectively phrases or phrases of equal weight. They embrace: neither…nor, both…or, not solely…but in addition, and so forth. 

You’ll discover that the 2 phrases in every pair are by no means straight subsequent to one another, however as a substitute bookend phrases and phrases collectively: 

• Neither I nor my sister needed a slice of the pie. 
• Not solely did he get there on time, however he additionally remembered to deliver the ice cream. 

What’s a subordinating conjunction? 

A subordinating conjunction combines a dependent clause to an impartial clause, indicating an off-the-cuff relationship between two concepts. These concepts usually should do with a transition between time, locations, or states of being. 

• Whereas you’re on the retailer, are you able to decide up a berry pie? 
• She searched the drawer frantically till lastly finding the ice cream scoop. 

Feeling assured about conjunctions in English? Spanish conjunctions fall into the identical classes and comply with the identical guidelines, with a pair exceptions, that are famous under. Let’s dive in! 

>>Need to evaluation fundamental Spanish phrases and phrases? Begin with this information. 

Spanish coordinating conjunctions

y (e)

This is without doubt one of the hottest phrases in any language! As , “and” signifies that you’re contributing one thing along with what you’ve already stated. As a conjunction, a technique we use y in Spanish is to affix smaller grammatical objects like nouns:

Me gustan peras y manzanas. = I like pears and apples.

We additionally use it to attach phrases:

Caitlin corre en el gimnasio y en el parque. = Caitlin runs on the health club and on the park.

And…lastly we use it to attach impartial clauses. In contrast to English, we regularly don’t use a comma to attach two impartial clauses. Normally the repeated info within the second impartial clause is optionally available:

Vamos a Barcelona a ver la catedral y (vamos) a Valencia a visitar el acuario. = We’re going to Barcelona to see the cathedral, and (we’re going) to Valencia to go to the aquarium.

When the phrase after “and” begins with an “i” sound, we use e as a substitute of y. This compulsory use of e is to keep away from two sounds that sound precisely the identical one after one other:

Es una mujer guapa e inteligente. = She is a horny and clever girl.

o (u)

This phrase meaning “or” is usually used to distinction or supply two choices:

A Ollin le gustaría vivir en París o Nueva York. = Ollin want to stay in Paris or New York.

We regularly use this conjunction for questions:

Guadalupe, ¿quieres leche o agua? = Guadalupe, would you like milk or water?

pero

This phrase will get utilized to distinction info or to point hesitation a few scenario. It exhibits opposing ideas:

Los muchachos desean ir al cine, pero no tienen dinero. = The younger males want to go to the films, however they don’t have any cash.

sino

This phrase is just like pero, but it’s used to counterpose a unfavorable assertion:

No compramos un sofá sino compramos una silla. = We didn’t purchase a settee; as a substitute, we purchased a chair.

Take notice that si no is just not the identical as sino. Si no means “if not.”

así que

It is a phrase you’ll hear so much once you’re listening to Spanish. It explains a choice, consequence, or consequence:

Está lloviendo así que no podemos andar en bicicleta. = It’s raining so we will’t trip our bicycles.

luego

Right here’s a phrase that’s employed usually when telling a narrative, brief or lengthy:

Jaime y Nicólas fueron a cenar luego fueron al teatro. = Jaime and Nicolás went to dinner then they went to the theater.

Spanish correlative conjunctions

ni..ni…

As one of many paired conjunctions, ni…ni… could be put into motion with nouns or brief phrases of comparable building:

No me parece ni tu concept ni la suya. = Neither your concept nor his appears good to me.

It will also be employed to change the topic of a sentence:

Ni Carmen ni Pedro van a ir a la playa. = Neither Carmen nor Pedro will go to the seaside.

Observe that whereas in English we’d use the singular verb for this sentence, in Spanish we’d use the plural (van). 

We will additionally make the most of ni…ni… with verbs:

Este adolescente ni estudia ni trabaja. = This teenager neither research nor works.

no solo…sino (también)…

This standard pair is used to emphasise two associated issues. También is optionally available:

No solo debes cuidar el agua, sino debes cuidar la luz. = Not solely do you have to save water however you must additionally save electrical energy.

Observe that in Spanish we should use a comma for this building! This isn’t obligatory in English (although you’ll usually see one anyway). It’s price noting, too, that no solo…pero (también)… is ceaselessly used colloquially as a substitute of no solo…sino (también)...

o…o…

Just like English, o…o… affords one choice or the opposite:

O limpias tu cuarto o no vas a la fiesta. = Both you clear your room or you’re not going to the social gathering.

o bien…o bien…

Like o…o…, this paired conjunction states one choice or the opposite, nevertheless it’s just a little extra formal:

O bien podemos juntarnos el sábado o bien podemos juntar el lunes. = Both we may get collectively on Saturday, or we may get collectively on Monday.

tanto…como…

Right here is one other ceaselessly used pair meaning “each”:

Tanto tú como yo tenemos que comer comida sana. = Each you and I must eat wholesome meals.

Spanish subordinating conjunctions 

mientras

Like all subordinating conjunctions, mientras goes within the subordinate (or dependent) clause, or the clause that relies on the impartial clause to finish the thought or concept:

Mientras su madre leía, Delia cocinaba. = Whereas her mom learn, Delia cooked.

Subordinating conjunctions like mientras also can go after the impartial clause. In that case, no comma is important:

Delia cocinaba mientras su madre leía. = Delia cooked whereas her mom learn. 

porque

Right here’s a phrase that you just’ll use so much! It means “as a result of,” and it offers extra info within the type of a trigger:

Los niños no hicieron la tarea porque el perro comió sus cuadernos. = The youngsters didn’t do their homework as a result of the canine ate their notebooks.

Don’t confuse porque with por qué, which suggests “why”!

si

Si units up a situation that states if one factor occurs (or doesn’t occur) one other factor will happen (or not happen):

Si llueve, no iremos al zoológico. = If it rains, we is not going to go to the zoo. 

aunque

Whenever you use aunque, you’re expressing opposition, one thing that tends to negate one thing else:

Aunque hago ejercicio, no bajo de peso. = Though I do train, I don’t drop a few pounds.

como

Como means “since” in Spanish dependent clauses when it doesn’t have an accent:

Como voy a la tienda, puedo comprarte tu leche. = Since I’m going to the shop, I should purchase you your milk.

Como additionally means “I eat,” however you’ll be able to distinguish the conjunction from the verb by counting on context. When it has an accent, cómo means “how.”

cuando

Utilizing cuando is fairly simple, and also you’ll use it when discussing the time at which an motion takes place. 

Cuando practicas mucho, aprendes el español más rápido. = When you apply so much, you be taught Spanish extra shortly.

hasta que

Hasta que means “till.” Use hasta que with a verb prior to now tense once you describe a particular scenario:

Ella buscó en su mochila hasta que encontró el dinero. = She appeared in her backpack till she discovered the cash.

por lo tanto

This conjunction means “due to this fact” and signifies a consequence: 

Los López llegaron tarde, por lo tanto ya no había transporte público. = The Lopezes arrived late; due to this fact, there wasn’t any public transportation.

si bien

Si bien means “regardless that” and contrasts with the knowledge within the impartial clause:

Si bien Juanita sabía todo el materials, no aprobó el examen. = Though Juanita knew all the fabric, she didn’t move the examination.

a pesar de que

This phrase means “despite” or “even supposing.” Use a pesar de que when info contradicts a logical conclusion:

A pesar de que Hugo tiene una maestría, no encontró un puesto permanente. = Even supposing Hugo has a grasp’s diploma, he didn’t discover a everlasting place.

aun cuando

This conjunction has the sense of “even when” or “even when,” and suggests contrasting info:

Aun cuando ahorro dinero, no junto lo suficiente para comprar un coche. = Even when I get monetary savings, I don’t increase sufficient to purchase a automotive.

de modo/forma/manera que

Right here’s a three-for-one! All of those conjunctions imply the identical factor: “in order that.” 

Me recogió a las siete de modo que pudimos llegar a tiempo. = She picked me up at 7:00 in order that we may arrive on time.

en cuanto

Use this once you imply “as quickly as.” Prior to now tense, it takes the indicative case:

En cuanto ellos encontraron el perro lo reportaron con el albergue de animales. = As quickly as they discovered the canine, they reported it to the animal shelter.

cada vez que

Use cada vez que (each time) with a verb within the indicative case when talking a few particular scenario:

Cada vez que veo esta película lloro. = Each time I see this film I cry.

How do Spanish conjunctions differ from English conjunctions?

As talked about, Spanish conjugations are just like English of their use; nevertheless, just a few issues are totally different. For instance, the punctuation might differ barely. Phrases in Spanish which have an accent have a special that means than phrases spelled the identical with out an accent. Though not addressed on this weblog, some conjunctions set off the usage of the subjunctive. You’ll be able to be taught extra in regards to the Spanish subjunctive right here! 

Craft higher sentences with Rosetta Stone

Conjunctions are small phrases with a complete lot of that means, and with an inventory this complete, you’re able to tackle the world. You’ll be becoming a member of Spanish sentences with confidence very quickly. 

To grasp the remainder of Spanish grammar—from pronouns to verb conjugation—we suggest Rosetta Stone. Our distinctive Dynamic Immersion strategy to studying contains bite-sized classes and studying instruments that allow you to be taught from context, not from rote memorization. Plus, TruAccent is the good speech engine round. With each phrase you encounter, you’ll have the choice to say it out loud and get automated suggestions in your pronunciation. Rosetta Stone learners get to excellent their accent from the very first lesson. 

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Written by Rowena Galavitz

Rowena Galavitz is a Spanish translator, bilingual copy editor, and language and literature teacher with three grasp’s levels who loves Spanish and all issues Mexico.