segundo / conforme
According to and as: Segundo and Conforme
Before a noun, segundo and conforme mean according to: segundo o xornal. Before a clause, they mean as: Faino conforme che dixen (do it as I told you).
How It Works
According to
Before a noun or pronoun, both words introduce a source or a rule:
- Segundo o xornal, mañá vai chover (according to the newspaper).
- Segundo a miña nai, o caldo leva grelos.
- Conforme often takes a: conforme á lei (a + a = á), in line with the law.
The Spanish form según is not Galician: always say segundo.
As a conjunction
- In the way that: Faino conforme che dixen.
- As, while (two things changing together): Segundo ía lendo, tomaba notas. This is close to mentres.
- As soon as: Conforme chegou á casa, quitou a roupa mollada. This is close to en canto.
- Depending on (segundo): Cobrarás segundo as horas que traballes.
Pronouns
As conjunctions, segundo and conforme start a subordinate clause, so an unstressed pronoun goes before the verb: conforme che dixen. See pronouns in subordinate clauses.
Reporting a source
To say that information comes from someone else without naming them, Galician also has disque.
Examples (6)
- Segundo o xornal, mañá vai chover.
According to the newspaper, it is going to rain tomorrow.
Segundo before a noun introduces a source.
- Faino conforme che dixen.
Do it the way I told you.
Conforme as a conjunction means in the way that; che goes before dixen.
- Segundo a miña nai, o caldo leva grelos.
According to my mother, Galician broth has turnip greens in it.
Segundo introduces whose opinion this is.
- Conforme chegou á casa, quitou a roupa mollada.
As soon as he got home, he took off his wet clothes.
Here conforme means as soon as.
- Segundo ía lendo, tomaba notas.
As she went on reading, she took notes.
Here segundo shows two actions developing together.
- Cobrarás segundo as horas que traballes.
You will be paid according to the hours you work.
Segundo means depending on; traballes is subjunctive because the hours are not known yet.
Common Mistakes
Using the Spanish form según.
Según o xornal, mañá vai chover.Segundo o xornal, mañá vai chover.The Galician word is segundo.
Putting the pronoun after the verb when conforme is a conjunction.
Faino conforme díxenche.Faino conforme che dixen.Conforme starts a subordinate clause, so the pronoun goes before the verb.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Segundo and conforme can introduce a source, manner or time relationship.
Related Patterns
- por for Cause, Route and Means
Por shows cause or means; segundo instead shows a source or rule.
Level 2 - en canto + SubjunctiveAs Soon as: En Canto
The usual way to say as soon as, close to one meaning of conforme.
Level 4 - mentresWhile: Mentres
The usual way to say while, close to one meaning of segundo.
Level 3 - Pronouns Before the Verb in Subordinate Clauses
Explains why the pronoun goes before the verb after conforme.
Level 3 - disqueThey Say: Disque
Another way to report where information comes from.
Level 5 - canto a / en canto aAs for: Canto a
A formal phrase that introduces a topic (as for); segundo instead introduces a source.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice segundo / conforme in Bubblegum
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