Clauses are building blocks of meaning that group words around a single idea, and they shape how you connect and organize information in Spanish.
Types
The main types of clauses are main (or independent), which can stand alone, and subordinate (or dependent), which add extra details and rely on a main clause.
Relative
Relative clauses modify a noun and usually begin with a relative pronoun like que, quien, or cuyo, tying extra information directly to that noun.
The house that they bought is old.
Adverbial
Adverbial clauses describe time, cause, manner, condition, or purpose, and they often start with conjunctions like cuando, porque, aunque, si, or para que.
Noun
Noun clauses function as a subject, object, or complement and frequently begin with que, an infinitive, or a question word; they allow you to report thoughts, desires, and statements.
Subjunctive
The subjunctive mood commonly appears in subordinate clauses after triggers that express doubt, desire, emotion, necessity, or uncertainty, and it signals that an action is not guaranteed or is subjective.
Key Vocabulary
Learn common connectors and relative pronouns that introduce each type of clause to smoothly link ideas and show relationships like cause, time, and condition.
| Spanish Connector | English Translation | |
|---|---|---|
| que | that | |
| quien / quienes | who / whom | |
| donde | where | |
| cuando | when | |
| porque | because | |
| aunque | although | |
| si | if | |
| para que | so that | |
| mientras | while |
| Spanish Word | English Translation | |
|---|---|---|
| que | that / which / who | |
| cuando | when | |
| aunque | although / even though | |
| porque | because | |
| antes de | before | |
| después de | after | |
| si | if | |
| cuando | when | |
| decir | to say | |
| creer | to believe | |
| esperar | to hope | |
| querer | to want | |
| necesitar | to need | |
| para que | so that | |
| como | as / since | |
| mientras | while |
Summary
Clauses group related ideas, with main clauses presenting key information and subordinate clauses adding details; mastering relative, adverbial, and noun clauses plus the subjunctive will improve your ability to express complex relations in Spanish.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025