CONJUNCIONES

Plus de détails

Grammar linkers Conjuctions/prepositions

par William Rojas

ingles medio ambiente

par francisco javier diaz chaves

The Connectors

par Angie Montealegre

Gerundio e Infinitivo

par Jesús Acevedo

CONJUNCIONES

Conjunciones condicionales

As long as nos dice que algo ocurrirá sólo si otra cosa también ocurre

She'll come as long as she thinks John is going to be there.

I'll tell you as long as you promise not to tell anyone else.

u ocurrirá si nada se lo permite

He'll pass all his exams unless he makes a stupid mistake.

They'll be here at six, unless they miss the train.

Unless sugiere que algo no ocurrirá si no se da una determinada circunstancia

She won't tidy her room unless you help her.

I won't go unless she pays.

Conjunciones causales

También podemos utilizar because of + un sujeto

The match was cancelled because of the heavy rain.

En un inglés más formal, se puede sustituir because por as o since, que suelen situarse al principio de la frase

Since there's no time left we'll have to postpone it.

As it was raining we didn't go out.

Las conjunciones causales explican por qué ha ocurrido algo e introducen la razón de una circunstancia. Con este fin empleamos because

We went to buy some cheese because we were going to make a pizza.

Conjunciones de propósito

For puede expresar propósito en dos casos específicos

for + verbo en _ing para describir la utilidad de un objeto

A toothbrush is for cleaning your teeth.

A hammer is for hitting nails.

for + sujeto para dar a conocer un objetivo

They will go for a run

We went out for a drink

También podemos emplear so that para expresar un propósito. Después de so that es necesario añadir una cláusula entera

She opened the door so that the cat could come in

Podemos acompañar un infinitivo de in order o so as, cuyo uso es opcional

They are coming tomorrow (so as) to prepare for the conference.

She left early (in order) to catch the last bus.

El infinitivo puede expresar un propósito

She ran home to be in time for the match

He closed the door to keep warm

Conjunciones consecutivas

Podemos utilizar las conjunciones so/that's why para explicar las consecuencias de una situación o acción

He thought it was going to rain, that's why he's got an umbrella with him.

It was freezing cold so we went inside.

Conjunciones de modo

Empleamos as if para indicar que algo parece ser verdad aunque no lo sea

He acts as if he is the boss.

They look as if they've come from a fancy dress party.

She looks as if she's been awake all night.

Si deseamos hacer una comparación de igualdad con un sujeto, utilizaremos like

She's like a Greek goddess.

He looks a bit like a rock star from the seventies.

Empleamos as como una conjunción de igualdad. En estos casos, as va seguida de una clausula entera.

He's an excellent cook, as his mother used to be.

Conjunciones de contraste

Se puede introducir una clausula entera si añadimos the fact that

Despite the fact that he had been on a do-it-yourself course he couldn't fix the cupboard.

In spite of the fact that she had three alarm clocks she still didn't get up in time

despite o in spite of + sujeto

Despite their difference in age they decided to get married.

He finished off the cake in spite of his diet.

Si queremos dar más énfasis a la frase, podemos añadir even delante de though

Just keep saying 'yes', even though you don't understand.

even though she hasn't really revised enough she's going to do the exam.

although y though

He is Spanish, though he can speak English and German fluently.

Although she had been working all night she wasn't tired.

Las conjunciones and/but/or

Empleamos or para presentar una alternativa o posibilidad

You can have chicken or steak.

We can go by train or we can go by bus.

But subraya el contraste existente entre dos clausulas o dos términos

We are poor, but happy.

He's not really intelligent, but he's very attractive.

And une o enlaza dos cláusulas o dos términos separados

She bought a pair of trousers and a jacket

I went to the lake and I went to the river