B1 · Intermediate

B1 connectors (conectores)

Aunque, sin embargo, por eso, ya que, para que and more: how to logically connect sentences.

Contrast: aunque, sin embargo, en cambio

Aunque ('although/even if') can be followed by the indicative (a certain fact) or the subjunctive (a hypothetical or uncertain fact). Sin embargo ('however') and en cambio ('on the other hand') connect two contrasting sentences.

Examples

Aunque llueve, salimos a caminar.Although it's raining, we're going for a walk (it really is raining).
Aunque llueva mañana, saldremos igualmente.Even if it rains tomorrow, we'll go out anyway (uncertain).
Me gusta el café; sin embargo, no lo tomo por la noche.I like coffee; however, I don't drink it at night.

Consequence: por eso, así que

Por eso ('that's why') and así que ('so') introduce a consequence of what was said before.

Examples

No tenía dinero, por eso no fui al concierto.I didn't have any money, that's why I didn't go to the concert.
Llovía mucho, así que nos quedamos en casa.It was raining hard, so we stayed home.

Reason/cause: porque, como, ya que

Porque usually appears in the middle or end of the sentence and answers 'why?'. Como ('since') always comes at the start of the sentence. Ya que ('given that') can appear anywhere and often sounds a bit more formal.

Examples

No fui a trabajar porque estaba enfermo.I didn't go to work because I was sick.
Como estaba enfermo, no fui a trabajar.Since I was sick, I didn't go to work.
Ya que insistes, te ayudaré.Since you insist, I'll help you.

Purpose: para que + subjunctive

Para que ('so that') is always followed by the subjunctive, because the purpose has not yet been achieved.

Examples

Te lo explico para que lo entiendas.I'm explaining it to you so that you understand it.
Habla más alto para que te oigamos.Speak louder so that we can hear you.

Others: mientras que, es decir

Mientras que compares or contrasts two simultaneous situations. Es decir ('that is to say') clarifies or rephrases what was just said.

Examples

Ella trabaja en Madrid, mientras que él trabaja en Barcelona.She works in Madrid, while he works in Barcelona.
Llegaremos tarde, es decir, después de las diez.We'll arrive late, that is, after ten o'clock.

💡 Tips

💡
'Como' meaning 'since' always comes at the start of the sentence — later in the sentence 'como' usually means 'like' or 'as'.
💡
'Para que' is always followed by the subjunctive, because it refers to a purpose that hasn't been achieved yet.
💡
'Aunque' + indicative = a certain fact; 'aunque' + subjunctive = a hypothesis or something uncertain.

🎯 Practise this topic with 10 interactive exercises (10)

Related grammar

Reported speech (estilo indirecto)
How to report someone's words with 'decir que', including the shift in verb tenses, pronouns and time expressions.
Relative clauses (oraciones de relativo)
Que, quien, el que, lo que, donde and cuyo — and when to use the indicative or subjunctive in a relative clause.
Impersonal se and the passive se (pasiva refleja)
How to use 'se' for general statements (se vive bien) and for a passive construction without an agent (se venden pisos).

← Verbal periphrases (perífrasis verbales)The imperfect subjunctive →

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