A2 Spanish GrammarSubordinate Clauses
Master Spanish subordinate clauses (oraciones subordinadas) including relative clauses with que, quien, donde, and noun clauses. Learn when to use indicative vs subjunctive mood.
1Relative Clauses with Que
Que (that, which, who) is the most common relative pronoun and can refer to people or things. It connects a subordinate clause to the main clause. Unlike English, que cannot be omitted in Spanish.
Que as Relative Pronoun
| Refers to | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| person (subject) | who | El hombre que habla |
| person (object) | whom/that | La mujer que vi |
| thing (subject) | that/which | El libro que está aquà |
| thing (object) | that/which | La pelĂcula que vimos |
Examples
La chica que trabaja aquĂ es mi amiga.
The girl who works here is my friend.
que for person (subject)
El coche que compré es rojo.
The car (that) I bought is red.
que cannot be omitted
Los libros que necesitas están aquĂ.
The books (that) you need are here.
que for things
Es todo lo que sé.
It's all (that) I know.
lo que = what/that which
2Other Relative Pronouns
Quien/quienes refers only to people and is used after prepositions. Donde refers to places. Cuyo/a/os/as means 'whose' and agrees with the possessed noun, not the possessor.
Relative Pronouns
| Pronoun | English | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| quien(es) | who, whom | after preposition, people only |
| donde | where | places |
| cuyo/a/os/as | whose | possession (agrees with noun) |
| el/la cual, los/las cuales | which, who | formal, after prep |
Examples
La persona con quien hablé es simpática.
The person with whom I spoke is nice.
quien after preposition
El restaurante donde comimos era bueno.
The restaurant where we ate was good.
donde for places
El autor cuyo libro leĂ es famoso.
The author whose book I read is famous.
cuyo agrees with libro
Las personas de quienes te hablé llegaron.
The people I told you about arrived.
quienes (plural)
3Noun Clauses
Noun clauses function as subjects or objects. They often follow verbs of thinking, saying, feeling, or wanting. Use indicative for facts/certainty and subjunctive for wishes, doubts, or emotions.
Noun Clause Patterns
| Main Verb Type | Mood | Example |
|---|---|---|
| think, believe, say | indicative | Creo que viene |
| know, see, notice | indicative | Sé que está aquà |
| want, prefer, need | subjunctive | Quiero que vengas |
| doubt, deny | subjunctive | Dudo que venga |
Examples
Creo que tiene razĂłn.
I think (that) he's right.
creer + indicative
No creo que tenga razĂłn.
I don't think (that) he's right.
no creer + subjunctive
Es importante que estudies.
It's important that you study.
impersonal + subjunctive
Me alegra que estĂ©s aquĂ.
I'm glad (that) you're here.
emotion + subjunctive
4Temporal Clauses
Temporal clauses indicate when something happens. Use indicative for past or habitual actions. Use subjunctive when referring to future events that haven't happened yet.
Temporal Conjunctions
| Spanish | English | Mood for Future |
|---|---|---|
| cuando | when | subjunctive |
| antes de que | before | always subjunctive |
| después de que | after | subjunctive (future) |
| hasta que | until | subjunctive (future) |
| tan pronto como | as soon as | subjunctive (future) |
Examples
Cuando lleguĂ©, ya habĂa salido.
When I arrived, he had already left.
cuando + past (indicative)
Cuando llegues, llámame.
When you arrive, call me.
cuando + future (subjunctive)
Antes de que te vayas, dame tu nĂşmero.
Before you leave, give me your number.
antes de que + subjunctive
Esperaré hasta que vuelvas.
I'll wait until you return.
hasta que + subjunctive (future)