Adding a point
y ademáseverydayes bah-RAH-toh ee ah-DEH-mahs es-TAH THER-kah“It’s cheap and it’s close, too.”Why: Ser for the quality (barato), estar for the location (cerca).
Es(it) isbaratocheapy ademásand-besidesestá(it) iscerca.near
tambiénneutraltam-BYEN AI keh pen-SAR en el KOS-teh“We also have to think about the cost.”Why: Hay que + infinitive means “one has to”, with no particular person.
Tambiénalsohay queone-mustpensarto-thinkenaboutelthecoste.cost
asimismoformalah-see-MEES-moh, kon-BYEH-neh rreh-bee-SAR el plan“Likewise, the plan should be reviewed.”Why: Typical of reports and formal letters.
Asimismo,likewiseconviene(it) is-advisablerevisarto-revieweltheplan.plan
por otra parteneutralpor OH-trah PAR-teh, el KLEE-mah es ee-deh-AL“Furthermore, the climate is ideal.”Why: It introduces another consideration, often simply a further point, not always a contrast.
Porbyotraotherparte,parteltheclimaclimateesisideal.ideal
Note: además can also start a sentence: Además, es más rápido.
Contrast: but, however
peroeverydayes boh-NEE-toh, PEH-roh KAH-roh“It’s nice, but expensive.”Why: The everyday “but” in speech and writing.
Es(it) isbonito,niceperobutcaro.expensive
sin embargoneutralseen em-BAR-goh, noh TOH-dohs es-TAN deh ah-KWER-doh“However, not everyone agrees.”Why: Usually opens a new sentence and is followed by a comma.
Sin embargo,howevernonottodosallestán(they) arede acuerdo.in-agreement
no obstanteformalnoh obs-TAN-teh, los DAH-tohs son KLAH-rohs“Nevertheless, the data are clear.”Why: Formal; common in academic and legal texts.
No obstante,neverthelesslosthedatosdatasonareclaros.clear
sinoneutralnoh es RROH-hoh, SEE-noh nah-RAN-hah“It isn’t red but orange.”Why: After a negative, sino corrects: not A, but B.
Nonotes(it) isrojo,redsinobut-rathernaranja.orange
Note: sino replaces pero after a negative to correct it: no A sino B.
Cause: because, since
porqueeverydaynoh BEE-noh POR-keh es-TAH-bah en-FER-moh“He didn’t come because he was ill.”Why: Porque follows the main clause.
Nonotvino(he) cameporquebecauseestaba(he) wasenfermo.ill
comoneutralKOH-moh yoh-BEE-ah, nohs keh-DAH-mohs“As it was raining, we stayed in.”Why: In this sense como must open the sentence.
Comoasllovía,(it) was-rainingnosourselvesquedamos.(we) stayed
ya queneutralloh kom-PREH yah keh es-TAH-bah rreh-bah-HAH-doh“I bought it since it was reduced.”Why: Gives a reason the listener can accept as obvious.
Loitcompré(I) boughtya quesinceestaba(it) wasrebajado.reduced
puesto queformalPWES-toh keh noh ai KWOH-room, seh ah-PLAH-thah“Since there is no quorum, it is postponed.”Why: Se + verb is an impersonal passive, common in formal notices.
Puesto quesincenonothaythere-isquórum,quorumse aplaza.(it) is-postponed
Note: como must start the sentence; porque cannot.
Consequence: so, therefore
así queeverydayes-TAH-bah kan-SAH-doh, ah-SEE keh meh FWEE“I was tired, so I left.”Why: Mainly spoken; it joins two clauses in one sentence.
Estaba(I) wascansado,tiredasí quesome fui.(I) left
por esoeverydaypor EH-soh teh yah-MEH“That’s why I called you.”Why: Eso points back to something just said.
Por esothat’s-whyteyoullamé.(I) called
por lo tantoneutralpor loh TAN-toh, lah proh-PWES-tah es bee-AH-bleh“Therefore, the proposal is viable.”Why: The safe choice in written arguments.
Por lo tanto,thereforelathepropuestaproposalesisviable.feasible
en consecuenciaformalen kon-seh-KWEN-thyah, seh kan-THEH-lah el eh-BEN-toh“Consequently, the event is cancelled.”Why: Formal; typical of official announcements.
En consecuencia,consequentlyse cancela(it) is-cancelledeltheevento.event
Note: así que is spoken; por lo tanto is the safe written choice.
Concession: although, even if
aunque + indicativeneutralOWN-keh es-TAH LEH-hohs, BAH-mohs“Although it’s far, we’re going.”Why: Está, indicative: the distance is a known fact.
Aunquealthoughestá(it) islejos,farvamos.(we) go
aunque + subjunctiveneutralOWN-keh es-TEH LEH-hohs, ee-REH-mohs“Even if it’s far, we’ll go.”Why: Esté, subjunctive: the distance is unknown, or it makes no difference.
Aunqueeven-ifesté(it) is (subj.)lejos,fariremos.(we) will-go
a pesar de queneutralah peh-SAR deh keh yoh-BEE-ah, sah-LEE-mohs“Despite the fact it was raining, we went out.”Why: Stronger than aunque. Pesar means “weight”: in spite of the weight of it.
A pesar de quedespite-the-fact-thatllovía,(it) was-rainingsalimos.(we) went-out
si bienformalsee byen es KAH-roh, meh-REH-theh lah PEH-nah“While it is expensive, it is worth it.”Why: Merecer la pena means “to be worth it”. Si bien takes the indicative.
Si bienwhilees(it) iscaro,expensivemerece(it) deserveslathepena.trouble
Note: aunque + indicative states a fact; + subjunctive leaves it open or dismisses it.
Purpose: in order to, so that
para + infinitiveeverydayes-TOO-dyoh PAH-rah ah-proh-BAR“I’m studying to pass.”Why: Same person in both halves: para + infinitive.
Estudio(I) studyparain-orderaprobar.to-pass
para queneutralteh loh eks-PLEE-koh PAH-rah keh loh en-TYEN-dahs“I’m explaining it so that you understand.”Why: Different people in each half: para que + subjunctive, because the result has not happened yet.
Teto-youloitexplico(I) explainpara queso-thatloitentiendas.(you) understand (subj.)
con el fin deformalseh rreh-oo-NYEH-ron kon el FEEN deh yeh-GAR ah oon ah-KWER-doh“They met in order to reach an agreement.”Why: The formal equivalent of para.
Se reunieron(they) metcon el fin dein-order-tollegarto-reachatounanacuerdo.agreement
de modo queneutralAH-blah des-PAH-thyoh, deh MOH-doh keh teh en-TYEN-dan“Speak slowly, so that they understand you.”Why: With the subjunctive it gives a purpose; with the indicative, a result.
Hablaspeakdespacio,slowlyde modo queso-thatteyouentiendan.(they) understand (subj.)
Note: para que always takes the subjunctive.
Aunque: a known fact, or an open possibility?
Aunque takes either verb form, and the choice changes the meaning. The indicative is the ordinary verb form for facts. The subjunctive is the form for things that are not known, not yet real, or not relevant to the decision. See the subjunctive for the forms. English works the same way, so it helps to compare with our guide to English transition words.
A model paragraph: tourism in the city
Connectors are in red. Every word has its English meaning underneath.
Thesis
el too-REES-moh TRAH-eh beh-neh-FEE-thyohs ah lah thyoo-DAD “Tourism brings benefits to the city.”
Eltheturismotourismtraebringsbeneficiosbenefitsatolatheciudad.city
Addition
ah-DEH-mahs, KREH-ah em-PLEH-oh ee rryeh-KEH-thah “Moreover, it creates jobs and wealth.”
Además,besidescreacreatesempleoemploymentyandriqueza.wealth
Contrast
seen em-BAR-goh, en-kah-REH-theh lah bee-BYEN-dah “However, it pushes up housing prices.”
Sin embargo,howeverencarecemakes-dearerlathevivienda.housing
Concession
OWN-keh SEH-ah dee-FEE-theel, ai soh-loo-THYOH-nes “Although it may be difficult, there are solutions.”
Aunquealthoughseait-be (subj.)difícil,difficulthaythere-aresoluciones.solutions
Conclusion
por loh TAN-toh, AH-theh FAL-tah oon eh-kee-LEE-bryoh “Therefore, a balance is needed.”
Por lo tanto,thereforehace falta(it) is-neededunaequilibrio.balance