Topics
IntermediateSubordination
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, 的话, 的时候) and correlative structures (因为…所以, 虽然…但是, 如果…就). 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)
- 我想他来了。(I think he came.)
- 我知道他走了。(I know he left.)
Optional complementizer 说:
- 他说…(He said that…)
Adverbial clauses
因为…所以 (because…so):
- 因为下雨，所以我没去。(Because it rained, I didn’t go.)
虽然…但是 (although…but):
- 虽然很难，但我会努力。(Although it’s hard, I’ll try.)
如果…就 (if…then):
- 如果下雨，我就不去。(If it rains, I won’t go.)
…的时候 (when…):
- 他来的时候，我在睡觉。(When he came, I was sleeping.)
为了 (in order to):
- 为了学好中文…(In order to learn Chinese well…)
Relative clauses
Pre-nominal, marked with 的:
- 我读的书 (the book that I read)
- 他买的车 (the car that he bought)
Comparison at a glance
| Clause type | Spanish | English | Chinese |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complement | que + mood | that / if / wh | zero / 说 |
| Relative | que / quien / el cual | that / which / who | 的 (pre-nominal) |
| Time | cuando / mientras | when / while | …的时候 |
| Cause | porque / ya que | because / since | 因为…所以 |
| Purpose | para que + subj | so that / in order to | 为了 |
| Concession | aunque | although / though | 虽然…但是 |
| Condition | si | if / unless | 如果…就 |
| Result | tan…que | so…that | 太…了 |
Examples in context
I think he came
- ES: Creo que vino.
- EN: I think (that) he came.
- ZH: 我想他来了。
If it rains, I won’t go
- ES: Si llueve, no voy.
- EN: If it rains, I won’t go.
- ZH: 如果下雨，我就不去。
The book that I read
- ES: el libro que leí
- EN: the book that I read
- ZH: 我读的书
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: 我想那个他来了 → 我想他来了 (no 那个)
-
Chinese speakers learning Spanish: Si llueve, voy (indicative) for hypothetical → Si lloviera, iría (subjunctive for hypothetical)
Related topics
- 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
Because it rained, I stayed
If he comes, I'll leave
If he comes, I'll leave
When he arrived, I left
When he arrived, I left
The book that I read
the book that I read (that + relative)
Although he tried, he failed
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
我想他来了 (no complementizer)
I want him to leave
我想让他走 (想让 + clause)
Because it rained, I stayed
因为下雨，所以我没去 (因为...所以...)
If he comes, I'll leave
如果他来，我就走 (如果...就...)
When he arrived, I left
他到的时候，我走了 (...的时候)
The book that I read
我读的书 (pre-nominal relative)
Although he tried, he failed
虽然他努力了，但还是失败了 (虽然...但是...)
So that he can see
为了让他能看见 (为了...)
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) | 我想他来了 (no complementizer) |
| I want him to leave | Quiero que se vaya (que + subjunctive) | I want him to leave (for-to / ECM) | 我想让他走 (想让 + clause) |
| Because it rained, I stayed | Como llovió, me quedé / Porque llovió, me quedé | Because it rained, I stayed | 因为下雨，所以我没去 (因为...所以...) |
| If he comes, I'll leave | Si viene, me voy (si + indicative/subjunctive) | If he comes, I'll leave | 如果他来，我就走 (如果...就...) |
| When he arrived, I left | Cuando llegó, me fui (cuando + indicative) | When he arrived, I left | 他到的时候，我走了 (...的时候) |
| The book that I read | el libro que leí (que + relative) | the book that I read (that + relative) | 我读的书 (pre-nominal relative) |
| Although he tried, he failed | Aunque lo intentó, fracasó (aunque + indicative) | Although he tried, he failed | 虽然他努力了，但还是失败了 (虽然...但是...) |
| 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 | 为了让他能看见 (为了...) |
Select at least one language to view comparisons
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) | 我想他来了 (no complementizer) |
| I want him to leave | Quiero que se vaya (que + subjunctive) | I want him to leave (for-to / ECM) | 我想让他走 (想让 + clause) |
| Because it rained, I stayed | Como llovió, me quedé / Porque llovió, me quedé | Because it rained, I stayed | 因为下雨，所以我没去 (因为...所以...) |
| If he comes, I'll leave | Si viene, me voy (si + indicative/subjunctive) | If he comes, I'll leave | 如果他来，我就走 (如果...就...) |
| When he arrived, I left | Cuando llegó, me fui (cuando + indicative) | When he arrived, I left | 他到的时候，我走了 (...的时候) |
| The book that I read | el libro que leí (que + relative) | the book that I read (that + relative) | 我读的书 (pre-nominal relative) |
| Although he tried, he failed | Aunque lo intentó, fracasó (aunque + indicative) | Although he tried, he failed | 虽然他努力了，但还是失败了 (虽然...但是...) |
| 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 | 为了让他能看见 (为了...) |
Select at least one language to view comparisons
Examples in context
I think that he came
Spanish
Creo que vino (que + indicative)
English
I think that he came (that + finite clause)
Chinese
我想他来了 (no complementizer)
I want him to leave
Spanish
Quiero que se vaya (que + subjunctive)
English
I want him to leave (for-to / ECM)
Chinese
我想让他走 (想让 + clause)
Because it rained, I stayed
Spanish
Como llovió, me quedé / Porque llovió, me quedé
English
Because it rained, I stayed
Chinese
因为下雨，所以我没去 (因为...所以...)
If he comes, I'll leave
Spanish
Si viene, me voy (si + indicative/subjunctive)
English
If he comes, I'll leave
Chinese
如果他来，我就走 (如果...就...)
When he arrived, I left
Spanish
Cuando llegó, me fui (cuando + indicative)
English
When he arrived, I left
Chinese
他到的时候，我走了 (...的时候)
The book that I read
Spanish
el libro que leí (que + relative)
English
the book that I read (that + relative)
Chinese
我读的书 (pre-nominal relative)
Although he tried, he failed
Spanish
Aunque lo intentó, fracasó (aunque + indicative)
English
Although he tried, he failed
Chinese
虽然他努力了，但还是失败了 (虽然...但是...)
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
为了让他能看见 (为了...)
Select at least one language to view comparisons
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.
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Last updated: June 4, 2026