Adverbial Conjunctions: Subjunctive (Future) vs. Indicative (Past)
These conjunctions use the subjunctive mood to express future actions or events and the indicative mood to express past actions or events.
However, when there is no change of subject, "después de" (after) and "hasta" (until) use the infinitive.
Conjunctions:
en cuanto / tan pronto como = as soon as
Example (Future/Subjunctive): Tan pronto como Belén dé a luz, la matrona le llevará al bebé a Teresa. (As soon as Belén gives birth, the midwife will take the baby to Teresa.)
Example (Past/Indicative): Tan pronto como Belén había dado a luz, la matrona le llevó al bebé a Teresa. (As soon as Belén had given birth, the midwife took the baby to Teresa.)
cuando = when
Example (Future/Subjunctive): Cuando la marquesa llegue al hotel, hablará con Alfredo sobre el embarazo falso. (When the marchioness arrives at the hotel, she will talk to Alfredo about the fake pregnancy.)
Example (Past/Indicative): Cuando la marquesa llegó al hotel, Belén ya había dado a luz. (When the marchioness arrived at the hotel, Belén had already given birth.)
después de (que) = after
Example (Future/Subjunctive): Después de que Belén dé a luz, la matrona permitirá que se muera. (After Belén gives birth, the midwife will allow her to die.)
Example (Past/Indicative): Después de que Belén había dado a luz, la matrona permitió que se muriera. (After Belén had given birth, the midwife allowed her to die.)
Example (Infinitive - no subject change): Después de dar a luz, Belén estará en peligro. (After giving birth, Belén will be in danger.)
Example (Infinitive - no subject change, perfect infinitive): Después de haber dado a luz, Belén casi se murió. (After having given birth, Belén almost died.)
hasta (que) = until
Example (Future/Subjunctive): Diego no llamará a la matrona hasta que Belén le entregue la carta. (Diego will not call the midwife until Belén hands him the letter.)
Example (Past/Indicative): Diego no llamó a la matrona hasta que Belén le había entregado la carta. (Diego did not call the midwife until Belén had handed him the letter.)
Example (Infinitive - no subject change): Diego no llamará a la matrona hasta conseguir la carta. (Diego will not call the midwife until getting the letter).
Example (Infinitive - no subject change): Diego no llamó a la matrona hasta conseguir la carta. (Diego did not call the midwife until getting the letter.)
These conjunctions always use the subjunctive when there is a change of subject in the clause they introduce.
However, if there is no subject change, the infinitive is used.
Conjunctions:
para + infinitivo = in order to (no subject change)
Example: Clara puso en vestido de Alicia para engañar a Diego. (Clara put on Alicia's dress in order to deceive Diego.)
para que + subjuntivo = in order that (with subject change)
Example: Jesús robó el vestido de Alicia para que Clara se lo pusiera. (Jesús stole Alicia's dress in order that Clara would put it on.)
antes de + infinitivo = before (no subject change)
Example: Antes de salir del hotel, Clara se puso el vestido de Alicia. (Before leaving the hotel, Clara put on Alicia's dress.)
antes de que + subjuntivo = before (with subject change)
Example: Antes de que Clara saliera del hotel, Jesús le había dado el vestido de Alicia. (Before Clara left the hotel, Jesús had given her Alicia's dress.)
con tal de + infinitivo = provided that (no subject change)
Example: Con tal de firmar el documento, Diego puede salir de la celda. (Provided that he signs the document, Diego can leave the cell.)
con tal de que + subjuntivo = provided that (with subject change)
Example: Con tal de que Diego firme el documento, Alicia lo liberará de la celda. (Provided that Diego signs the document, Alicia will free him from the cell.)
sin + infinitivo = without (no subject change)
Example: Sin tener ropa nueva, Ángela no pudo asistir a la cena. (Without having new clothes, Ángela could not attend the dinner.)
sin que + subjuntivo = without (with subject change)
Example: Clara salió del hotel sin que Alicia la viera. (Clara left the hotel without Alicia seeing her.)
en caso de + infinitivo = in case (no subject change)
Example: Jesús vigila a Diego en caso de ver algo sospechoso. (Jesús watches Diego in case he sees something suspicious.)
en caso de que + subjuntivo = in case (with subject change)
Example: En caso de que la bala pueda dañar a Julio, el médico decide quitarla. (In case the bullet could harm Julio, the doctor decides to remove it.)