Personal Infinitive or Subjunctive

Level 4

Galician often gives you two ways to say the same thing: antes de que chegues or antes de chegares (before you arrive). Drop que, and the verb becomes a personal infinitive.

How It Works

Common pairs

  • para que o saibas = para o saberes (so that you know)
  • antes de que chegues = antes de chegares (before you arrive)
  • despois de que marchen = despois de marcharen (after they leave)
  • sen que nos vexan = sen nos veren (without them seeing us)
  • ata que volvades = ata volverdes (until you come back)
  • é importante que esteades atentos = é importante estardes atentos
  • cando saias ≈ ao saíres (when you go out)

No tense matching with the infinitive

The subjunctive follows the sequence of tenses: Mándovos a dirección para que cheguedes but Mandeivos a dirección para que chegásedes. The personal infinitive stays the same in both: para chegardes. That makes it a handy shortcut in the past.

Which one to choose

  • Both are correct. The personal infinitive is a typical Galician feature and is often shorter.
  • Use que + subjunctive when there is no preposition to hold the infinitive, as after querer que, oxalá or aínda que: Quero que veñas.
  • When the subject of the infinitive is a full noun, it usually comes after the verb: sen o saberen os pais.

Pronouns

After a preposition, an object pronoun often comes before the infinitive: para o saberes, sen nos veren (see pronoun before an infinitive).

Examples (6)

  1. Chámame antes de chegares.

    Call me before you arrive.

    Same meaning as Chámame antes de que chegues.

  2. Explícocho para o saberes.

    I am explaining it to you so that you know.

    Same meaning as para que o saibas. Cho combines che and o.

  3. É importante estardes atentos.

    It is important for you all to pay attention.

    Same meaning as É importante que esteades atentos.

  4. Saímos sen nos veren os veciños.

    We left without the neighbours seeing us.

    Same meaning as sen que nos visen os veciños. The subject os veciños follows the infinitive.

  5. Ao saíres, pecha a porta.

    When you go out, close the door.

    Close in meaning to Cando saias, pecha a porta.

  6. Mandeivos a dirección para chegardes sen problemas.

    I sent you the address so that you would get there without any trouble.

    The main verb is past, but the infinitive does not change. The subjunctive version would be para que chegásedes.

Common Mistakes

  • Mixing que with the personal infinitive.

    Chámame antes de que chegares.
    Chámame antes de chegares.

    Choose one pattern: antes de que chegues or antes de chegares.

  • Using para que with an infinitive.

    Explícocho para que o saberes.
    Explícocho para o saberes.

    Para que needs the subjunctive (para que o saibas). Para alone takes the personal infinitive.

  • Leaving out que before the subjunctive.

    Chámame antes de chegues.
    Chámame antes de que chegues.

    A conjugated subjunctive needs que after the preposition.

How It Connects

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

Personal Infinitive or SubjunctiveLevel 4

Learn This First

A personal infinitive and a finite subjunctive clause can express corresponding dependent actions.