- 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.
- We use temporal subordinate clauses of delimitation to indicate the moment when an action ends or changes, especially in the future.
| Tipo | Expresión | Ejemplo |
|---|---|---|
Simultaneidad
| Al + infinitivo | Al enamorarse Pedro y Ana decidieron convivir juntos. (Upon falling in love Pedro and Ana decided to live together.) |
| Cuando + indicativo | Cuando estaban solteros solían ligar mucho en las fiestas. (When they were single they used to flirt a lot at parties.) | |
| Mientras + indicativo | Mientras pedía perdón su expareja lloraba por la ruptura. (While he was apologising his ex-partner was crying over the breakup.) | |
| Delimitación | Hasta que + subjuntivo | No 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.
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.)