Conjunções subordinativasSubordinating Conjunctions

The subordinating conjunctions link a dependent clause to another main clause and mark the sense relation between them. They introduce values of cause, concession, condition, purpose, time, proportion, consequence and completive. In Portuguese, the choice of the conjunction also helps define the verbal mood of the subordinate clause, especially between indicative and subjunctive. To understand the general structure of the dependence between clauses, it is worth revisiting Conjunctions and Subordinate Clauses.

Causal clauses indicate the reason or explanation for an action, as in constructions with because, since and as. They normally present a fact considered real, so they tend to appear with the indicative. The causal clause usually explains the cause of the main clause and can come before or after it, with the comma varying according to position and emphasis.

Concessives introduce an idea that contrasts with the main clause, without preventing the result expressed in it. Conjunctions such as although, even if and even that commonly require the subjunctive when expressing hypothesis, opposition or irrelevance of the fact to the main action. The comma is frequent because the concessive clause is usually highlighted before or after the main clause.

Conditionals present a condition for the main action to take place, as in structures with if, case and provided that. When the condition is presented as a possibility, the verb in the subordinate clause may take the subjunctive; when the condition is seen as a more certain fact, the indicative may arise in some contexts. The conditional clause can come before the main clause, which favors the comma, or after, when the link is more continuous.

Final clauses indicate objective, intention or purpose, and appear with para que and a fim de que. These conjunctions normally require the subjunctive because the action is still desired or planned, not a completed fact. In colloquial language, the purpose can also appear with a reduced infinitive, especially when the subject is the same in both clauses.

Temporal clauses situate the action in time and use conjunctions such as quando, enquanto and assim que. When they indicate a future or not yet realized fact, the subjunctive is common; when they indicate a habitual or simultaneous fact, the indicative is the most natural mood. The position of the temporal clause does not alter the basic meaning, but can change the punctuation between the clauses.

Proportional clauses indicate increase, decrease or correspondence between two actions or qualities, as in quanto or quanto more. They show that a change in the first clause accompanies a change in the second. The structure typically appears with the indicative, because it describes an observable correlation between the two members of the sentence.

Consecutive clauses express consequence or result, with conjunctions such as de modo que and de sorte que. They show the effect produced by an intensity, action or preceding circumstance. In general they appear after an intensifying term in the main clause, and the verb in the subordinate clause is usually in the indicative when the consequence is presented as a fact.

Completives, also called substantive clauses, function as complements of verbs, nouns or adjectives and are frequently introduced by que and, in some cases, by se when in indirect discourse or doubt. The completive clause normally corresponds to an idea of content, desire, hope, certainty or indirect question. In many contexts, the main verb determines the mood of the subordinate clause, favoring the subjunctive when there is desire, doubt or an indirect command.

In subordinate clauses, the indicative appears when the clause presents a fact considered real, habitual or certain. The subjunctive appears when the clause expresses hypothesis, desire, possibility, purpose or concession. The choice of mood depends more on the semantic relation with the main clause than on the conjunction alone, so the same conjunction can combine with different moods depending on the context.

The subordinating conjunction begins the subordinate clause and creates syntactic dependence relative to the main clause. This clause can come before or after the main one, but the comma is more common when the subordinate clause comes first, especially in concessive and temporal cases. In colloquial use, the conjunction can be omitted in certain contexts or the subordinate clause can appear reduced, particularly with an infinitive.

Subordinating conjunctions organize the link between a main clause and a dependent clause, specifying cause, concession, condition, purpose, time, proportion, consequence or content. The correct interpretation depends on the sense relationship and also on the verbal mood that the subordinate clause requires in each case. With careful use of conjunctions, punctuation and mood, the sentence gains precision and naturalness in Portuguese.