Subordination: porque, embora, se, quando, para que
Subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent clauses. Some require the indicative, others require the conjunctive. Mastering which takes which is essential for fluent EP.
PortuStories Editorial
European Portuguese Grammar Guide
| Conjunction | Meaning | Mood required |
|---|---|---|
| porque | because | indicative |
| como | since / as (cause) | indicative |
| quando (past/present) | when | indicative |
| quando (future) | when | future conjunctive |
| se (real future) | if | future conjunctive |
| se (hypothetical) | if | imperfect conjunctive |
| embora | although | conjunctive |
| para que | so that | conjunctive |
| antes que | before | conjunctive |
| até que | until | conjunctive |
Fiquei em casa porque estava doente.
I stayed home because I was sick.
Porque + indicative.
Embora estivesse doente, foi trabalhar.
Although he was ill, he went to work.
Embora + imperfect conjunctive.
Estuda para que possas passar.
Study so that you can pass.
Para que + present conjunctive.
Key EP rule: concessive (embora), final (para que), and certain temporal conjunctions (antes que, até que, logo que) always take the conjunctive. Causal conjunctions (porque, como) always take the indicative.
From a PortuStories Story
Saiu cedo para que chegasse a tempo, embora soubesse que o metro estava lento.
She left early so that she would arrive on time, although she knew the metro was slow.