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Learn how to use Spanish temporal adverbial clauses to express simultaneous actions and time boundaries, focusing on key expressions like "Al + infinitivo," "Cuando + indicativo," "Mientras + indicativo," and "Hasta que + subjuntivo."
  1. We use temporal subordinate clauses of simultaneity to express two or more actions that occur at the same time, in the present or in the past.
  2. We use temporal subordinate clauses of delimitation to indicate the moment when an action ends or changes, especially in the future.
TipoExpresiónEjemplo

Simultaneidad

 

Al + infinitivoAl enamorarse Pedro y Ana decidieron convivir juntos. (Upon falling in love Pedro and Ana decided to live together.)
Cuando + indicativoCuando estaban solteros solían ligar mucho en las fiestas. (When they were single they used to flirt a lot at parties.)
Mientras + indicativoMientras pedía perdón su expareja lloraba por la ruptura. (While he was apologising his ex-partner was crying over the breakup.)
DelimitaciónHasta que + subjuntivoNo se besarán hasta que estén enamorados de verdad. (They will not kiss until they are truly in love.)

Exercise 1: Oraciones (subordinadas adverbiales) temporales II

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

convivían, se besaban, decidir, pedir, terminó, estaban, querrán, superen

1. Besarse:
Mientras ... los dos confesaron que estaban enamorados desde hace meses.
(While they were kissing, they both confessed that they had been in love for months.)
2. Querer:
No ... dar el paso de casarse hasta que estén realmente enamorados.
(They will not want to take the step of getting married until they are truly in love.)
3. Pedir:
Al ... perdón Marta se dio cuenta de que su relación estaba a punto de la ruptura.
(By apologising, Marta realised that her relationship was on the verge of breaking up.)
4. Estar:
Cuando ... solteros ellos solían ligar en los bares del barrio.
(When they were single, they used to pick up people in the local pubs.)
5. Convivir:
Cuando ... juntos se dieron cuenta de que preferían estar separados.
(When they lived together, they realised that they preferred to be apart.)
6. Superar:
No se casarán hasta que ... la ruptura de sus relaciones anteriores.
(They will not get married until they get over the breakup of their previous relationships.)
7. Terminar:
Cuando ... la ruptura ella decidió que sería mejor quedarse soltera.
(When the breakup ended she decided it would be better to stay single.)
8. Decidir:
Al ... convivir con Eva Carlos no podía imaginar vivir separado de ella.
(When deciding to live with Eva, Carlos could not imagine living apart from her.)

Understanding Spanish Adverbial Temporal Subordinate Clauses II

This lesson focuses on advanced expressions used to form temporal subordinate clauses in Spanish, specifically those indicating simultaneity and delimitation of actions. These structures allow you to describe when multiple events happen at the same time or mark the endpoint of an action, enriching your ability to narrate events with precision and fluency.

Simultaneity: Actions Occurring at the Same Time

Simultaneity implies that two or more actions take place simultaneously. There are several common expressions that introduce these clauses:

  • Al + infinitive — Example: Al enamorarse Pedro y Ana decidieron convivir juntos.
  • Cuando + indicative — Example: Cuando estaban solteros solían ligar mucho en las fiestas.
  • Mientras + indicative — Example: Mientras pedía perdón su expareja lloraba por la ruptura.

These expressions frequently appear in both present and past contexts and help you express that actions overlap in time.

Delimitation: Marking the End or Change of an Action

Delimitation clauses are used to indicate the moment when one action ends or changes. The main connector here is:

  • Hasta que + subjunctive — Example: No se besarán hasta que estén enamorados de verdad.

This structure is particularly common when referring to future events or conditions that need to be fulfilled before something else happens.

Key Vocabulary and Expressions

  • Al: used with an infinitive to express simultaneous actions.
  • Cuando: followed by indicative to mean "when".
  • Mientras: means "while," used with indicative.
  • Hasta que: means "until," used with subjunctive to mark limits.

Important Notes on Differences from English

In Spanish, temporal subordinate clauses often require the use of the subjunctive mood when the action is anticipated or not yet completed, especially with connectors like hasta que. This contrasts with English, which typically uses the indicative for similar contexts (e.g., "until they are really in love"). Recognizing and practicing the correct mood in Spanish is key to expressing time-related nuances accurately.

Common phrases from this lesson such as Al enamorarse (Upon falling in love), Cuando estaban (When they were), and Hasta que estén (Until they are) exemplify this grammatical behavior.

By mastering these expressions and their appropriate moods, you will enhance your conversational and writing skills in Spanish, making your descriptions of time relationships more natural and precise.

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