en canto + Subjunctive
As Soon as: En Canto
En canto means as soon as. For the future it takes the subjunctive: En canto chegue, avísote (as soon as I arrive, I will let you know).
How It Works
The pattern
En canto + clause, then the main clause. The choice of mood depends on time:
- Future: present subjunctive. En canto chegue, avísote (as soon as I arrive, I will let you know); Chámame en canto saias do traballo.
- Past: indicative. En canto o vin, souben que era el.
- Habits: indicative. En canto chego á casa, quito os zapatos (as soon as I get home, I take my shoes off).
This is the same rule as cando and other time clauses: never use the future indicative after en canto.
Synonyms. Tan pronto como and así que mean the same: Tan pronto como remate, vou para aí, Así que teña os resultados, mándochos.
Pronouns. After en canto the pronoun goes before the verb, as in other subordinate clauses: en canto o vin. In the main clause that follows, a plain statement takes the pronoun after the verb: avísote.
Do not confuse it with en canto a (as for, regarding), which is followed by a noun: En canto ao prezo, xa falaremos.
Examples (6)
- En canto chegue, avísote.
As soon as I arrive, I will let you know.
Word by Word: As-soon-as I-arrive, I-warn-you.
Chegue is present subjunctive because the arrival is in the future.
- Chámame en canto saias do traballo.
Call me as soon as you leave work.
Saias is the present subjunctive of saír.
- En canto o vin, souben que era el.
As soon as I saw him, I knew it was him.
A past fact takes the indicative: vin. The pronoun o goes before the verb after en canto.
- En canto chego á casa, quito os zapatos.
As soon as I get home, I take my shoes off.
A regular habit takes the present indicative.
- Tan pronto como remate, vou para aí.
As soon as I finish, I will come over.
Tan pronto como works like en canto: remate is subjunctive.
- Así que teña os resultados, mándochos.
As soon as I have the results, I will send them to you.
Así que can also mean as soon as. Mándochos is mando + che + os.
Common Mistakes
Using the future indicative after en canto.
En canto chegarei, avísote.En canto chegue, avísote.For a future moment, en canto takes the present subjunctive (chegue), never the future indicative (chegarei).
Starting the main clause with the pronoun.
En canto chegue, te aviso.En canto chegue, avísote.The main clause is a plain statement, so the pronoun goes after the verb.
Using the subjunctive for something that already happened.
En canto o vise, souben que era el.En canto o vin, souben que era el.A past fact takes the indicative after en canto.
How It Connects
Learn This First
En canto places one event immediately after another and varies mood with its time reference.
Related Patterns
- ata que / desde que / unha vez queTime Clauses
Other time conjunctions that take the subjunctive for future events.
Level 4 - Present Subjunctive of Regular Verbs
The present subjunctive forms used after en canto.
Level 3 - Pronouns Before the Verb in Subordinate Clauses
Explains why the pronoun goes before the verb in en canto o vin.
Level 3 - canto a / en canto aAs for: Canto a
A different expression meaning as for or regarding, easy to confuse with en canto.
Level 5 - ao + InfinitiveUpon Doing: Ao + Infinitive
Another way to say when or upon doing something with the same subject.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice en canto + Subjunctive in Bubblegum
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