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Intermediate

Subordination

How Spanish, English and Chinese embed clauses within larger structures.

Compare languages

Subordination creates a hierarchical relationship where one clause depends on another. Spanish and English use explicit complementizers and finite verb forms. Chinese uses particles and zero-marking for many subordinate relations.

Overview

Subordination embeds one clause within another, creating dependency.

Spanish: Uses explicit complementizers (que, si, cuando, aunque, para que). Mood (indicative vs subjunctive) is critical. Relative clauses use que, quien, el cual.
English: Uses complementizers (that, if, whether, when, because, although). Finite and non-finite subordinate clauses. Relative clauses use that, which, who, whom.
Chinese: Often omits complementizers. Uses particles (的de, 的de话huà, 的de时shí候hòu) and correlative structures (因yīn为wéi…所suǒ以yǐ, 虽suī然rán…但dàn是shì, 如rú果guǒ…就jiù). Pre-nominal relative clauses.

Spanish

Complement clauses (que)

Factive / declarative (indicative):

Sé que viene. (I know that he’s coming.)
Dijo que iba. (He said that he was going.)

Volitional / non-factive (subjunctive):

Quiero que venga. (I want him to come.)
Espero que llueva. (I hope it rains.)

Doubt / negation (subjunctive):

Dudo que venga. (I doubt that he’ll come.)
No creo que sea verdad. (I don’t think it’s true.)

Adverbial clauses

Type	Conjunction	Mood
Time	cuando, mientras, antes de que, después de que	subjunctive for future
Cause	porque, ya que, puesto que	indicative
Purpose	para que, a fin de que	subjunctive
Concession	aunque, a pesar de que	indicative or subjunctive
Condition	si	indicative / subjunctive
Result	tan…que, de modo que	indicative

Relative clauses

el libro que leí (the book that I read)
la mujer a quien vi (the woman whom I saw)
el hombre el cual vino (the man who came — formal)

Infinitival subordination

When subjects are shared:

Quiero ir. (I want to go.)
Trato de hacerlo. (I try to do it.)

English

Complement clauses

That-clauses:

I think that he came. / I think he came. (that optional)
I hope that she wins.

If/whether clauses:

I don’t know if/whether he came.
I wonder whether she knows.

Wh-clauses:

I don’t know what he wants.
I wonder where she went.

Non-finite complement clauses

To-infinitive:

I want to go.
She decided to leave.

For-to infinitive:

I want for him to leave.
It’s important for us to study.

Gerund:

I enjoy swimming.
She avoids talking to him.

Adverbial clauses

Type	Conjunctions
Time	when, while, before, after, since, until, as soon as
Cause	because, since, as
Purpose	so that, in order that, lest
Concession	although, though, even though, while
Condition	if, unless, provided that
Result	so…that, such…that
Comparison	as…as, than
Place	where, wherever

Relative clauses

the book that/which I read
the woman who/whom I saw
the reason why I left
the place where we met

Chinese

Complement clauses (no complementizer)

我wǒ想xiǎng他tā来lái了le。(I think he came.)
我wǒ知zhī道dào他tā走zǒu了le。(I know he left.)

Optional complementizer 说shuō:

他tā说shuō…(He said that…)

Adverbial clauses

因yīn为wéi…所suǒ以yǐ (because…so):

因yīn为wèi下xià雨yǔ，所suǒ以yǐ我wǒ没méi去qù。(Because it rained, I didn’t go.)

虽suī然rán…但dàn是shì (although…but):

虽suī然rán很hěn难nán，但dàn我wǒ会huì努nǔ力lì。(Although it’s hard, I’ll try.)

如rú果guǒ…就jiù (if…then):

如rú果guǒ下xià雨yǔ，我wǒ就jiù不bù去qù。(If it rains, I won’t go.)

…的de时shí候hòu (when…):

他tā来lái的de时shí候hou，我wǒ在zài睡shuì觉jiào。(When he came, I was sleeping.)

为wéi了le (in order to):

为wèi了le学xué好hǎo中Zhōng文wén…(In order to learn Chinese well…)

Relative clauses

Pre-nominal, marked with 的de:

我wǒ读dú的de书shū (the book that I read)
他tā买mǎi的de车chē (the car that he bought)

Comparison at a glance

Clause type	Spanish	English	Chinese
Complement	que + mood	that / if / wh	zero / 说shuō
Relative	que / quien / el cual	that / which / who	的de (pre-nominal)
Time	cuando / mientras	when / while	…的de时shí候hòu
Cause	porque / ya que	because / since	因yīn为wéi…所suǒ以yǐ
Purpose	para que + subj	so that / in order to	为wéi了le
Concession	aunque	although / though	虽suī然rán…但dàn是shì
Condition	si	if / unless	如rú果guǒ…就jiù
Result	tan…que	so…that	太tài…了le

Examples

In Context

Spanish	English	Chinese
Creo que vino.	I think (that) he came.	我wǒ想xiǎng他tā来lái了le。
Si llueve, no voy.	If it rains, I won’t go.	如rú果guǒ下xià雨yǔ，我wǒ就jiù不bù去qù。
el libro que leí	the book that I read	我wǒ读dú的de书shū

Common mistakes

English speakers learning Spanish: Creo viene → Creo que viene (que required)
Spanish speakers learning English: Creo que sí → I think so (so replaces that-clause)
English speakers learning Chinese: 我wǒ想xiǎng那nà个gè他tā来lái了le → 我wǒ想xiǎng他tā来lái了le (no 那nà个gè)
Chinese speakers learning Spanish: Si llueve, voy (indicative) for hypothetical → Si lloviera, iría (subjunctive for hypothetical)

Complement Clauses: How complement clauses work
Relative Clauses: How relative clauses work
Conditionals: How conditional clauses work
Temporal Clauses: How time clauses work

Examples

I think that he came

Creo que vino (que + indicative)

I want him to leave

Quiero que se vaya (que + subjunctive)

Because it rained, I stayed

Como llovió, me quedé / Porque llovió, me quedé

If he comes, I'll leave

Si viene, me voy (si + indicative/subjunctive)

When he arrived, I left

Cuando llegó, me fui (cuando + indicative)

The book that I read

el libro que leí (que + relative)

Although he tried, he failed

Aunque lo intentó, fracasó (aunque + indicative)

So that he can see

Para que pueda ver / A fin de que vea (subjunctive)

Examples

I think that he came

I think that he came (that + finite clause)

I want him to leave

I want him to leave (for-to / ECM)

Because it rained, I stayed

If he comes, I'll leave

When he arrived, I left

The book that I read

the book that I read (that + relative)

Although he tried, he failed

So that he can see

So that he can see / In order that he see

Examples

I think that he came

我wǒ想xiǎng他tā来lái了le (no complementizer)

I want him to leave

我wǒ想xiǎng让ràng他tā走zǒu (想xiǎng让ràng + clause)

Because it rained, I stayed

因yīn为wéi下xià雨yǔ，所suǒ以yǐ我wǒ没méi去qù (因yīn为wéi...所suǒ以yǐ...)

If he comes, I'll leave

如rú果guǒ他tā来lái，我wǒ就jiù走zǒu (如rú果guǒ...就jiù...)

When he arrived, I left

他tā到dào的de时shí候hòu，我wǒ走zǒu了le (...的de时shí候hòu)

The book that I read

我wǒ读dú的de书shū (pre-nominal relative)

Although he tried, he failed

虽suī然rán他tā努nǔ力lì了le，但dàn还huán是shì失shī败bài了le (虽suī然rán...但dàn是shì...)

So that he can see

为wéi了le让ràng他tā能néng看kàn见jiàn (为wéi了le...)

Comparison at a glance

Grammar concepts	Spanish	English	Chinese
I think that he came	Creo que vino (que + indicative)	I think that he came (that + finite clause)	我wǒ想xiǎng他tā来lái了le (no complementizer)
I want him to leave	Quiero que se vaya (que + subjunctive)	I want him to leave (for-to / ECM)	我wǒ想xiǎng让ràng他tā走zǒu (想xiǎng让ràng + clause)
Because it rained, I stayed	Como llovió, me quedé / Porque llovió, me quedé	Because it rained, I stayed	因yīn为wéi下xià雨yǔ，所suǒ以yǐ我wǒ没méi去qù (因yīn为wéi...所suǒ以yǐ...)
If he comes, I'll leave	Si viene, me voy (si + indicative/subjunctive)	If he comes, I'll leave	如rú果guǒ他tā来lái，我wǒ就jiù走zǒu (如rú果guǒ...就jiù...)
When he arrived, I left	Cuando llegó, me fui (cuando + indicative)	When he arrived, I left	他tā到dào的de时shí候hòu，我wǒ走zǒu了le (...的de时shí候hòu)
The book that I read	el libro que leí (que + relative)	the book that I read (that + relative)	我wǒ读dú的de书shū (pre-nominal relative)
Although he tried, he failed	Aunque lo intentó, fracasó (aunque + indicative)	Although he tried, he failed	虽suī然rán他tā努nǔ力lì了le，但dàn还huán是shì失shī败bài了le (虽suī然rán...但dàn是shì...)
So that he can see	Para que pueda ver / A fin de que vea (subjunctive)	So that he can see / In order that he see	为wéi了le让ràng他tā能néng看kàn见jiàn (为wéi了le...)

Side-by-side comparison

Grammar concepts	Spanish	English	Chinese
I think that he came	Creo que vino (que + indicative)	I think that he came (that + finite clause)	我wǒ想xiǎng他tā来lái了le (no complementizer)
I want him to leave	Quiero que se vaya (que + subjunctive)	I want him to leave (for-to / ECM)	我wǒ想xiǎng让ràng他tā走zǒu (想xiǎng让ràng + clause)
Because it rained, I stayed	Como llovió, me quedé / Porque llovió, me quedé	Because it rained, I stayed	因yīn为wéi下xià雨yǔ，所suǒ以yǐ我wǒ没méi去qù (因yīn为wéi...所suǒ以yǐ...)
If he comes, I'll leave	Si viene, me voy (si + indicative/subjunctive)	If he comes, I'll leave	如rú果guǒ他tā来lái，我wǒ就jiù走zǒu (如rú果guǒ...就jiù...)
When he arrived, I left	Cuando llegó, me fui (cuando + indicative)	When he arrived, I left	他tā到dào的de时shí候hòu，我wǒ走zǒu了le (...的de时shí候hòu)
The book that I read	el libro que leí (que + relative)	the book that I read (that + relative)	我wǒ读dú的de书shū (pre-nominal relative)
Although he tried, he failed	Aunque lo intentó, fracasó (aunque + indicative)	Although he tried, he failed	虽suī然rán他tā努nǔ力lì了le，但dàn还huán是shì失shī败bài了le (虽suī然rán...但dàn是shì...)
So that he can see	Para que pueda ver / A fin de que vea (subjunctive)	So that he can see / In order that he see	为wéi了le让ràng他tā能néng看kàn见jiàn (为wéi了le...)

Examples in context

I think that he came

Spanish

Creo que vino (que + indicative)

English

I think that he came (that + finite clause)

Chinese

我wǒ想xiǎng他tā来lái了le (no complementizer)

I want him to leave

Spanish

Quiero que se vaya (que + subjunctive)

English

I want him to leave (for-to / ECM)

Chinese

我wǒ想xiǎng让ràng他tā走zǒu (想xiǎng让ràng + clause)

Because it rained, I stayed

Spanish

Como llovió, me quedé / Porque llovió, me quedé

English

Because it rained, I stayed

Chinese

因yīn为wéi下xià雨yǔ，所suǒ以yǐ我wǒ没méi去qù (因yīn为wéi...所suǒ以yǐ...)

If he comes, I'll leave

Spanish

Si viene, me voy (si + indicative/subjunctive)

English

If he comes, I'll leave

Chinese

如rú果guǒ他tā来lái，我wǒ就jiù走zǒu (如rú果guǒ...就jiù...)

When he arrived, I left

Spanish

Cuando llegó, me fui (cuando + indicative)

English

When he arrived, I left

Chinese

他tā到dào的de时shí候hòu，我wǒ走zǒu了le (...的de时shí候hòu)

The book that I read

Spanish

el libro que leí (que + relative)

English

the book that I read (that + relative)

Chinese

我wǒ读dú的de书shū (pre-nominal relative)

Although he tried, he failed

Spanish

Aunque lo intentó, fracasó (aunque + indicative)

English

Although he tried, he failed

Chinese

虽suī然rán他tā努nǔ力lì了le，但dàn还huán是shì失shī败bài了le (虽suī然rán...但dàn是shì...)

So that he can see

Spanish

Para que pueda ver / A fin de que vea (subjunctive)

English

So that he can see / In order that he see

Chinese

为wéi了le让ràng他tā能néng看kàn见jiàn (为wéi了le...)

Key Takeaways

Spanish: Uses explicit complementizers (que, si, cuando, aunque, para que). Mood (indicative vs subjunctive) is critical. Relative clauses use que, q.

English: Uses complementizers (that, if, whether, when, because, although). Finite and non-finite subordinate clauses. Relative clauses use that, whi.

Chinese: Often omits complementizers. Uses particles (的de, 的de话huà, 的de时shí候hòu) and correlative structures (因yīn为wéi... 所suǒ以yǐ, 虽suī然rán... 但dàn是shì,.

Key concepts compared: I think that he came, I want him to leave, Because it rained, I stayed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can Chinese omit complementizers while Spanish and English cannot?

Chinese subordinate clauses often lack an explicit complementizer: <ruby>我<rt>wǒ</rt></ruby><ruby>知<rt>zhī</rt></ruby><ruby>道<rt>dào</rt></ruby><ruby>他<rt>tā</rt></ruby><ruby>来<rt>lái</rt></ruby><ruby>了<rt>le</rt></ruby> (I know he came — no 'that'). Spanish and English require *que/that*: *Sé que vino* / 'I know that he came.' Chinese relies on word order and context; Spanish and English rely on explicit markers. A Chinese speaker learning Spanish or English will frequently omit *que/that*, producing *Creo viene* or 'I know he came' (acceptable in English but stigmatized in formal registers). An English speaker learning Chinese must learn that adding an explicit complementizer is unnecessary and sounds foreign.

How does Spanish mood selection in subordinate clauses differ from English?

Spanish uses the subjunctive in subordinate clauses when the main clause expresses doubt, emotion, or non-actuality: *Quiero que vengas* (I want you to come — subjunctive). English uses the infinitive: 'I want you to come.' Chinese uses the bare verb: <ruby>我<rt>wǒ</rt></ruby><ruby>想<rt>xiǎng</rt></ruby><ruby>你<rt>nǐ</rt></ruby><ruby>来<rt>lái</rt></ruby> (I want you come). English learners of Spanish struggle with the subjunctive because English has no equivalent mood; Chinese learners struggle because Chinese has no mood marking at all.

What is the difference between finite and non-finite subordination, and which language uses which?

English uses both finite clauses ('I know that he left') and non-finite clauses ('I want him to leave'). Spanish prefers finite clauses with the subjunctive: *Quiero que se vaya.* Chinese does not have non-finite subordination in the English sense; it uses serial verb constructions: <ruby>我<rt>wǒ</rt></ruby><ruby>想<rt>xiǎng</rt></ruby><ruby>他<rt>tā</rt></ruby><ruby>走<rt>zǒu</rt></ruby> (I want he leave). A Chinese speaker learning English must learn when to use the infinitive vs a finite clause, while an English speaker learning Chinese must abandon the finite/non-finite distinction entirely.

References

Nueva gramática de la lengua española — Real Academia Española / Asociación de Academias de la Lengua Española, 2010
The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language — Huddleston & Pullum, Cambridge University Press, 2002
A Comprehensive Grammar of the Modern Chinese Language — Li & Thompson, 1981

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conjunctions verb-tenses

Last updated: June 4, 2026

Overview

Spanish

Complement clauses (que)

Adverbial clauses

Relative clauses

Infinitival subordination

English

Complement clauses

Non-finite complement clauses

Adverbial clauses

Relative clauses

Chinese

Complement clauses (no complementizer)

Adverbial clauses

Relative clauses

Comparison at a glance

Examples

In Context

Common mistakes

Related topics

Examples

Examples

Examples

Comparison at a glance

Side-by-side comparison

Examples in context

Key Takeaways

Frequently Asked Questions

References