dado que / posto que / visto que

Formal Causal Connectors

Level 5

Dado que, posto que and visto que mean since or given that: Dado que non hai quórum, adiamos a votación (since there is no quorum, we will postpone the vote).

How It Works

A known cause

Dado que, posto que and visto que introduce a reason that both speakers already accept. The main clause then states the decision or result: Posto que xa estades todos, podemos comezar (since you are all here now, we can start). Visto que suggests the cause is something you can see or have noticed: Visto que non chove, imos dar un paseo.

Register

They are typical of formal language: reports, the press, meetings and official texts. In everyday speech, xa que or como at the start of the sentence is more usual. Use porque when the cause is new information.

Indicative

The cause is presented as a fact, so the verb is in the indicative: Dado que non hai quórum, not a subjunctive.

Position

They usually come first, followed by a comma. They can also follow the main clause: O tribunal aprazou o xuízo, dado que faltaban probas.

Pronouns

They begin a subordinate clause, so a pronoun goes before the verb: Dado que me chamaron tarde, non puiden ir.

Spelling

Write posto que, not the Spanish puesto que.

Examples (5)

  1. Dado que non hai quórum, adiamos a votación.

    Since there is no quorum, we will postpone the vote.

  2. Posto que xa estades todos, podemos comezar.

    Since you are all here now, we can start.

  3. Visto que non chove, imos dar un paseo.

    Seeing that it is not raining, we are going for a walk.

  4. O tribunal aprazou o xuízo, dado que faltaban probas.

    The court postponed the trial, since evidence was missing.

    The known cause can also follow the main clause.

  5. Visto que ninguén levantou a man, a proposta queda aprobada.

    Since nobody raised their hand, the proposal is approved.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the subjunctive for a known cause.

    Dado que non haxa quórum, adiamos a votación.
    Dado que non hai quórum, adiamos a votación.

    The cause is presented as a fact, so it takes the indicative.

  • Using the Spanish form puesto que.

    Puesto que xa estades todos, podemos comezar.
    Posto que xa estades todos, podemos comezar.

    The Galician form is posto que.

  • Putting the pronoun after the verb.

    Dado que chamáronme tarde, non puiden ir.
    Dado que me chamaron tarde, non puiden ir.

    These connectors start a subordinate clause, so the pronoun goes before the verb.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

dado que / posto que / visto queLevel 5Formal Causal Connectors

Learn This First

Formal reason clauses present an accepted cause and retain subordinate-clause clitic behavior.

Words in This Pattern

dado