Spanish Conjunctions

Learn Spanish conjunctions and how they connect words, phrases and clauses. This complete guide explains coordinating conjunctions such as y, o, pero and sino, and subordinating conjunctions such as porque, para que, aunque, si, cuando, antes de que, a menos que and como si.

Learn Spanish conjunctions with y o pero porque para que aunque si cuando and antes de que
Spanish conjunctions connect sentence parts: y, o, pero, porque, para que, aunque, si, cuando.

Why learn Spanish conjunctions with MundoDele?

Spanish conjunctions are not only small linking words. They shape sentence logic: addition, choice, contrast, cause, purpose, time, condition, result and manner. MundoDele explains them through clear examples and connected grammar paths rather than isolated lists.

The key idea is simple: first identify what relationship the sentence needs. Then choose the right conjunction: y adds, pero contrasts, porque gives a reason, para que gives a purpose, si gives a condition and cuando gives a time relationship.

How to use this page

Use this page as the central entry point for Spanish conjunctions. Start with the difference between coordinating and subordinating conjunctions. Then continue with the detailed pages by function: cause, purpose, result, condition, contrast, time and manner.

Equal elements

Coordinating conjunctions connect elements of the same level.

Café y pan.
Coffee and bread.

Dependent clauses

Subordinating conjunctions introduce a clause that depends on another clause.

No fui porque estaba enfermo.
I did not go because I was sick.

Mood matters

Some conjunctions require indicative, some subjunctive, and some can use both.

Aunque llueve vs aunque llueva.

What are conjunctions in Spanish?

Conjunctions are words or expressions that connect parts of a sentence. They can connect two words, two phrases, two main clauses or a main clause with a dependent clause.

What is connected? Spanish example English meaning Conjunction
Word + word Café y pan. Coffee and bread. y
Choice ¿Té o café? Tea or coffee? o
Contrast Es caro, pero bueno. It is expensive, but good. pero
Cause No fui porque estaba enfermo. I did not go because I was sick. porque
Purpose Te ayudo para que apruebes. I help you so that you pass. para que
Time Te llamaré cuando llegue. I will call you when I arrive. cuando
Memory line: conjunctions connect sentence parts and show the relationship between them.

Main types of Spanish conjunctions

The easiest way to learn Spanish conjunctions is by function. Each group answers a different sentence question.

Type Function Common conjunctions Detailed page
Coordinating Connect equal elements y, e, o, u, ni, pero, sino Coordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating Introduce dependent clauses porque, para que, aunque, cuando, si Subordinating Conjunctions
With que Use que inside connector phrases porque, para que, antes de que, a menos que Conjunctions with Que
Causal Reason or cause porque, ya que, puesto que, dado que Causal Conjunctions
Final Purpose or aim para que, a fin de que, con el fin de que Final Conjunctions
Consecutive Result or consequence por eso, así que, por lo tanto, tan...que Consecutive Conjunctions
Conditional Condition or exception si, a menos que, con tal de que, en caso de que Conditional Conjunctions
Concessive Contrast despite an obstacle aunque, a pesar de que, pese a que, si bien Concessive Conjunctions
Modal Manner or comparison como, según, conforme, como si Modal Conjunctions
Temporal Time relationship cuando, mientras, antes de que, después de que, hasta que Temporal Conjunctions

Spanish conjunctions by function

Dependent clauses

Subordinating Conjunctions

Learn how Spanish connects main clauses with dependent reason, time, purpose or condition clauses.

Purpose

Final Conjunctions

Learn para que, a fin de que, con el fin de que and purpose clauses.

Grammar foundation

Spanish Verbs

Review verb forms because conjunctions often depend on indicative, subjunctive or infinitive patterns.

Main overview

Spanish Grammar

Return to the complete Spanish grammar overview.

Coordinating vs subordinating conjunctions

The main distinction is between coordinating conjunctions and subordinating conjunctions. Coordinating conjunctions connect equal elements. Subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent clauses.

Type Spanish example English meaning Logic
Coordinating Quiero café y pan. I want coffee and bread. y connects equal nouns.
Coordinating Quiero ir, pero no puedo. I want to go, but I cannot. pero connects two coordinated clauses.
Subordinating No fui porque estaba enfermo. I did not go because I was sick. porque introduces a reason clause.
Subordinating Te llamaré cuando llegue. I will call you when I arrive. cuando introduces a time clause.

Most common Spanish conjunctions

These are some of the most useful Spanish conjunctions for everyday speech and writing.

Spanish English Example Function
y and Café y pan. Addition.
e and Español e inglés. Addition before an i sound.
o or Té o café. Choice.
u or Siete u ocho. Choice before an o sound.
ni nor / neither No quiero café ni té. Negative addition.
pero but Es caro, pero bueno. Contrast.
sino but rather No es caro, sino barato. Correction after negation.
porque because No fui porque estaba enfermo. Cause.
para que so that Te ayudo para que apruebes. Purpose.
aunque although / even if Aunque llueva, saldremos. Concession.
si if Si tengo tiempo, voy. Condition.
cuando when Te llamaré cuando llegue. Time.

Indicative, subjunctive or infinitive after conjunctions

Some Spanish conjunctions are easy because they usually introduce factual information. Others are more difficult because they depend on whether the action is real, future, hypothetical, desired or not yet completed.

Pattern Spanish example English meaning Grammar logic
Causal + indicative No fui porque estaba enfermo. I did not go because I was sick. The cause is presented as factual.
Final + subjunctive Te ayudo para que apruebes. I help you so that you pass. Purpose with a different subject.
Temporal + subjunctive Te llamaré cuando llegue. I will call you when I arrive. Future time action.
Conditional si + indicative Si tengo tiempo, voy. If I have time, I go / will go. Real or possible condition.
Purpose with same subject Estudio para aprobar. I study in order to pass. Use para + infinitive.
Practical rule: learn each conjunction together with its typical verb pattern.

Practice exercises: Spanish conjunctions

Try to answer before opening the solutions. These exercises focus on meaning, connector choice and sentence logic.

Exercise 1: choose the conjunction

  1. Quiero café ___ pan. = and
  2. ¿Té ___ café? = or
  3. No fui ___ estaba enfermo. = because
  4. Te ayudo ___ apruebes. = so that
Show answers

1. y
2. o
3. porque
4. para que

Exercise 2: identify the function

  1. Es caro, pero bueno.
  2. Estudio para aprobar.
  3. No salimos a menos que deje de llover.
  4. Te llamaré cuando llegue.
Show answers

1. Contrast
2. Purpose
3. Condition / exception
4. Time

Exercise 3: choose the correct form

  1. Español ___ inglés. y / e
  2. Siete ___ ocho. o / u
  3. No quiero café, ___ té. pero / sino
  4. Si ___ tiempo, voy. tengo / tenga
Show answers

1. e
2. u
3. sino
4. tengo

Typical mistakes with Spanish conjunctions

  • Confusing y and e: use e before a pure i sound: español e inglés.
  • Confusing o and u: use u before an o sound: siete u ocho.
  • Confusing pero and sino: pero contrasts; sino corrects after negation.
  • Confusing cause and result: porque gives the reason; por eso gives the result.
  • Using para que with an infinitive: say para aprobar or para que apruebes, not para que aprobar.
  • Using present subjunctive after normal si clauses: say si tengo tiempo, not si tenga tiempo.
  • Ignoring the difference between factual and hypothetical clauses: compare aunque llueve with aunque llueva.

Where to go next

Continue with coordinating conjunctions if you want the basic linking words first. Continue with subordinating conjunctions if you want to understand dependent clauses, subjunctive patterns and full sentence logic.

Coordinating Conjunctions
Learn y, e, o, u, ni, pero, sino. Subordinating Conjunctions
Learn porque, para que, aunque, cuando, si. Conjunctions with Que
Learn que, qué, porque, para que and a menos que.

Learn Spanish grammar with MundoDele

If Spanish conjunctions feel confusing, this guide can help you practise y, o, pero, porque, para que, aunque, si, cuando and real Spanish sentence patterns in a clear and structured way.

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FAQ: Spanish conjunctions

What are conjunctions in Spanish?

Spanish conjunctions are linking words that connect words, phrases or clauses. Examples include y, o, pero, porque, para que, aunque, si and cuando.

What are the main types of Spanish conjunctions?

The main types include coordinating, subordinating, causal, final, consecutive, conditional, concessive, modal and temporal conjunctions.

What is the difference between coordinating and subordinating conjunctions?

Coordinating conjunctions connect equal elements, such as y, o and pero. Subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent clauses, such as porque, cuando and para que.

What are the most common Spanish conjunctions?

Very common Spanish conjunctions include y, o, pero, sino, porque, para que, aunque, si and cuando.

Do Spanish conjunctions take the subjunctive?

Some conjunctions take the subjunctive, some take the indicative, and some can take both. For example, para que usually takes the subjunctive, while porque often takes the indicative.

What is the difference between porque and para que?

Porque introduces a reason or cause. Para que introduces purpose or aim.

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