Unit 9.2
Causal and Final Adverbial Subordinate Sentences
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Introduction
The subordinate clause [oración subordinada] is a type of compound sentence structurally dependent on the nucleus of another sentence, called the main sentence [oración principal].
There are three types of subordinate clauses: noun, adjective (or relative), and adverbial.
Adverbial subordinate clauses [oraciones subordinadas adverbiales] express a circumstance of the main verb.
Causal adverbial subordinate clauses [oraciones subordinadas adverbiales] indicate the cause or reason why an action occurs.
Final adverbial subordinates clauses [oraciones subordinadas adverbiales finales] indicate the purpose for which an action is performed.
Form
Adverbial subordinate clauses perform the function of an adverb (a circumstance) in a compound sentence. There are different types of these sentences, such as causal adverbial sentences and final adverbial sentences.
Causal adverbials
Causal adverbial subordinate sentences are connected to the main sentence with the nexus porque and are always in the indicative mood according to the following structure:
Main sentence + porque + subordinate clause (verb in the indicative mood).
One of its types is the statament causative, which affects the verb of the main sentence and comes after it.
One of the statement causative sub-types is the motivational causative, which requires an agentive subject (the one corresponding to the person, animal or thing that acts).
Final adverbials
Final adverbial subordinate clauses are connected to the main sentence with the nexus para followed by the infinitive verb according to the following structure:
Main sentence + para + construction with infinitive.
One of its types is the infinitive-integrated ones. The aim of the infinitive-integrated ones is utility, so the infinitive can go together with the subject agentive (performs the action) and non-agentive (does not perform the action).
Example
Causal adverbials:
- Me gusta la paella porque tiene muchos ingredientes;
- No hay segundo plato porque el primero llena mucho;
- Voy a pagar yo la cuenta porque te aprecio.
Final adverbials:
- Tengo un cuchillo para cortar mucho queso;
- La gente compra productos de belleza para parecer más joven;
- Voy a salir a pasear un poco para tomar el aire.
Use
Causal adverbial subordinate clauses express the cause of action; they indicate the direct cause, indirect cause, or reason for what is described in the main sentence.
Final adverbial subordinate clauses express the purpose of what is defined in the main sentence; they express the purpose or aim of the action or a characteristic of the thing represented by the subject (as a modifier of a noun phrase).
Summary
In Spanish, the subordinate clause represents a type of compound sentence structurally dependent on another sentence’s nucleus (main sentence). There are three types of subordinate clauses: noun, adjective (or relative) and adverbial.
Adverbial subordinate clauses express a circumstance of the main verb: causal adverbial clauses indicate the cause or reason why an action occurs, while final adverbial clauses indicate for what purpose an action is performed.
For example:
—«Quiero un nuevo libro porque me gusta leer» = porque expresses cause;
—«Quiero un nuevo libro para leer» = para express purpose.
Check the contents of the {Form} section. Then move on to the {Example} section, which shows you the usage in context.
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