B2 · Subordinate clauses
Purpose, result and contrast
«Although» and «even if» are one word here, told apart by the mood.
Purpose takes para que plus the subjunctive: Te lo digo para que lo sepas. If the subject stays the same, it is para plus the infinitive: Vine para verte. English uses a bare «to» there — «I came to see you» — and Spanish will not: the preposition has to be said, either para or, after a verb of motion, a.
Result takes así que, por eso or de modo que plus the indicative: Llovía, así que nos quedamos. A result that has actually happened is a fact, and facts take the indicative.
Contrast is where English is richer and Spanish is subtler. «Although», «even though» and «though» all report something real; «even if» supposes it. Spanish has one word for all four and puts the difference in the mood: Aunque llueve, salimos — it is raining. Aunque llueva, saldremos — even if it does.
Die Form
| purpose, two subjects | Lo hago para que estés tranquilo. |
| purpose, one subject | Lo hago para estar tranquilo. |
| result | Estaba cerrado, así que volvimos. |
| although, a fact | Aunque es caro, lo compro. |
| even if, open | Aunque sea caro, lo compraré. |
| so that not | para que no se enfade |
Die Regeln im Einzelnen
para que always takes the subjunctive.
Habla más alto para que te oigan.Speak up so that they can hear you.
With one subject it is para plus the infinitive.
Estudio para aprobar.I am studying in order to pass.
«To» on its own is not enough: para or a must be said.
No había sitio, así que nos fuimos.I came to see you.
«Although» takes the indicative, «even if» the subjunctive.
Aunque no me guste, iré.Even if I do not like it, I will go.
Woran man es erkennt
- para que
- así que
- por eso
- aunque
- de modo que
Beispielsätze
Te llamo para que no te preocupes.I am ringing you so you do not worry.
Era tarde, así que cogimos un taxi.It was late, so we took a taxi.
Aunque está enfermo, ha venido.Although he is ill, he has come.
Aunque esté enfermo, vendrá.Even if he is ill, he will come.
Noch 6 Beispielsätze
Cierra la ventana para que no entre el ruido.Shut the window so the noise does not get in.
Se fue temprano, por eso no lo viste.He left early, so you did not see him.
Aunque llueva, iremos a la playa.Even if it rains, we are going to the beach.
Lo escribí para no olvidarlo.I wrote it down so as not to forget it.
Estaba agotado, de modo que se acostó pronto.He was exhausted, so he went to bed early.
Aunque no lo parezca, es difícil.Even if it does not look it, it is difficult.
Die typisch deutsche Falle
Aufgepasst
«Even if it rains» is built with the indicative, because «although it rains» would take one: Aunque llueve, saldremos. That sentence says it is raining right now. For the supposition the verb is subjunctive: Aunque llueva, saldremos. One word, two meanings, and the verb is the only signpost.
aunque covers «although» and «even if» — the mood says which.
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