Sentence Structure in Spanish

In this guide, we will explore complex sentence structures in Spanish. By understanding and using subordinate clauses, relative clauses, and conditional clauses, you will be able to convey complex ideas and relationships between different parts of a sentence.

1. Subordinate Clauses

Subordinate clauses are clauses that cannot stand alone as complete sentences. They depend on the main clause to provide meaning. Here are three types of subordinate clauses commonly used in Spanish:

a. Noun Clauses

A noun clause functions as a noun within a sentence. It can act as the subject, object, or complement. Some common noun clauses include:

• Que + independent clause

  • Ejemplo: Que estudies mucho es importante. (That you study a lot is important.)

• Interrogative pronoun (quién, qué, cómo, dónde, etc.) + verb

  • Ejemplo: Dónde vives es un misterio. (Where you live is a mystery.)

b. Adjective Clauses

An adjective clause describes a noun or a pronoun in the main clause. It typically starts with a relative pronoun. Common relative pronouns used in Spanish are:

• Que (that, which, who)
• Quien (who, whom)
• El que, la que, los que, las que (that, which, who)

Ejemplo: El libro que compré ayer es muy interesante. (The book that I bought yesterday is very interesting.)

c. Adverbial Clauses

An adverbial clause provides additional information about the verb in the main clause. It often indicates time, cause, condition, or manner. Some common subordinating conjunctions used in Spanish are:

• Cuando (when)
• Porque (because)
• Si (if)
• Como (as, since)

Ejemplo: Cuando llegamos, comenzó a llover. (When we arrived, it started raining.)

2. Relative Clauses

Relative clauses are used to provide extra information about a noun or pronoun in the main clause. These clauses are introduced by relative pronouns, which agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Here are the most commonly used relative pronouns in Spanish:

• Que (that, which, who)
• Quien (who, whom)
• El que, la que, los que, las que (that, which, who)

Ejemplo: El chico que está hablando es mi hermano. (The boy who is talking is my brother.)

3. Conditional Clauses

Conditional clauses express a condition and its possible result. In Spanish, they are usually formed using the conjunction si (if). There are three types of conditional sentences:

a. First Conditional

The first conditional expresses a condition likely to happen in the future. It uses the present tense in both the subordinate clause and the main clause.

Ejemplo: Si estudias, aprobarás el examen. (If you study, you will pass the exam.)

b. Second Conditional

The second conditional expresses an unreal condition in the present or future. It uses the imperfect subjunctive in the subordinate clause and the conditional tense in the main clause.

Ejemplo: Si tuviera dinero, compraría un auto nuevo. (If I had money, I would buy a new car.)

c. Third Conditional

The third conditional expresses an unreal condition in the past. It uses the pluperfect subjunctive in the subordinate clause and the conditional perfect in the main clause.

Ejemplo: Si hubiera estudiado, habría aprobado el examen. (If I had studied, I would have passed the exam.)

Conclusion

By mastering complex sentence structures in Spanish, including subordinate clauses, relative clauses, and conditional clauses, you can effectively convey complex ideas and relationships between different parts of a sentence. Practice using these structures regularly to enhance your language skills and broaden your ability to express yourself in Spanish.