Unit 10.1
Causal and Final Adverbial Subordinate Adverbial 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 [sustantivas, adjetivas (o de relativo) y adverbiales].
Adverbial subordinate clauses [oraciones subordinadas adverbiales] express a circumstance of the main verb.Causal adverbial subordinate clauses [oraciones subordinadas adverbiales causales] indicate the cause or reason why an action occurs. Final adverbial subordinate 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.
Two types of these sentences are causal sentences and final sentences.
Causal adverbials
Causal adverbial sentences can be connected to the main sentecent with the preposition por;
One type is the statement causative, which affects the verb of the main sentence and appears after the main sentence. Statement causatives express equivalence in the simple sentence with the preposition por;
Causatives are always in the indicative mood and have the following structure:
Main sentence + por/porque + subordinate clause (verb in indicative mood).
Final adverbials
Final adverbial sentences are connected to the main sentence with the nexus para;
One of its types is the integrated infinitive ones which begin with the preposition para, which appears together with the infinitive after the main sentence;
They have the following structure:
Main sentence + para + subordinate clause (verb in infinitive).
Example
Causes of the statement:
- Limpio casas por dinero;
- He venido aquí por hacer algo;
- Solo hago esto por ti.
Integrated infinitive endings:
- Voy a pedir un café para llevar;
- Ahora mismo voy para ayudarte con el trabajo de inglés;
- Tuvo que trabajar en un supermercado para poder pagarse la carrera.
Use
{See Causal and Final Adverbial Subordinate Sentences, level A1}
Summary
In Spanish, two types of adverbial sentences are causal and final adverbial sentences.
Causal adverbial subordinate clauses are used to indicate the cause or reason why an action occurs. They are used to give motivation and are always used in the indicative mood. Their structure is as follows:
Main sentence + por/porque + subordinate clause
Final adverbial subordinate sentences are used to indicate for what purpose the main action is performed. Their structure is as follows:
Main sentence + para + infinitive
For example:
— «He vuelto a casa porque me he dejado la cartera». = Me he dejado la cartera is the causal subordinate clause which points to the clause of what happened in the main sentence;
— «He vuelto a casa para coger la cartera». = Coger la cartera is the final subordinate clause pointing to the purpose of what happens in the main sentence.
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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