Subjunctive in Adverbial Clauses

Conjunctions requiring subjunctive

• change of subject, include element of doubt/uncertainty: condition, purpose, intent
  

a menos que unless

en caso (de) que in case

antes (de) que before

para que so that/in order

con tal (de) que provided that/as long as

sin que without/unless

• Quiero salir temprano en caso que haya mucho tráfico cuando conduzco.

->I want to leave early in case there is a lot of traffic when I drive.

• after para and sin, ALWAYS use infinitive if there is no change in subject 

• No puedes hacerlo sin una hoja de papel.

-> You can’t do it without a sheet of paper.

• antes de, con tal de, and en caso de: can also be followed by an infinitive without que but it is optional to drop que 

• exception a menos que always requires subjunctive

Conjunctions followed by subjunctive/indicative

• if main action includes element of doubt/not yet occurred, then subjunctive is used
  

a pesar de que despite

hasta que until

aunque although/even if

luego (de) que after

cuando when

mientras que while

después (de) que after

siempre que as long as 

en cuanto as soon as

tan pronto como as soon as

Aunque aprendan cómo comportarse los niños, aún será difícil. 

• if main clause action already occurs or occurs repeatedly, then use indicative

• Already occurred: En cuanto ella cocinó el plato, nos lo comimos. 

• Repeated occurrence: Nunca comprenderás siempre que todavía te quejas.
  

• a pesar de, después de, and hasta can be followed by an infinitive instead of que + [subjunctive] when there is no change of subject