cando
When: Cando
Cando means when: Cando chove, quedo na casa (When it rains, I stay at home), Chamoume cando cheguei (She called me when I arrived).
How It Works
Habits: present + present: Cando teño tempo, leo no parque (When I have time, I read in the park).
Past events: Chamoume cando cheguei (She called me when I arrived). For background or a past habit, use the copretérito: Cando era pequena, vivía en Lugo (When I was little, I lived in Lugo). See preterite versus imperfect.
Order: the cando clause can come first, followed by a comma, or it can follow the main clause.
Pronouns go before the verb: cando starts a subordinate clause, so an object pronoun comes before its verb: Cando me ve, sorrí (When he sees me, he smiles). See pronouns in subordinate clauses.
Future events: after cando, an event that is still to come takes the present subjunctive, not the future indicative: Cando chegues, chámame. Literary and legal writing may also use the future subjunctive (cando chegares). This is taught in cando with future reference.
No accent: Galician cando has no written accent, whether it asks a question (Cando chegas?) or links two clauses. Asking when is covered in question words.
Examples (6)
- Cando chove, quedo na casa.
When it rains, I stay at home.
Word by Word: When rains, stay-I in-the house.
A habit: present + present.
- Chamoume cando cheguei.
She called me when I arrived.
Word by Word: Called-me when arrived-I.
A past event: preterite.
- Cando era pequena, vivía en Lugo.
When I was little, I lived in Lugo.
Word by Word: When was-I little, lived-I in Lugo.
Past background: copretérito.
- Cando teño tempo, leo no parque.
When I have time, I read in the park.
Word by Word: When have-I time, read-I in-the park.
- Cando me ve, sorrí.
When he sees me, he smiles.
Word by Word: When me sees, smiles.
The pronoun goes before the verb after cando.
- Cando saímos do cine, xa era de noite.
When we came out of the cinema, it was already dark.
Word by Word: When went-out-we of-the cinema, already was of night.
Common Mistakes
Using the Spanish spelling cuando.
Cuando chove, quedo na casa.Cando chove, quedo na casa.The Galician word is cando.
Putting the pronoun after the verb in a cando clause.
Cando chamoume, estaba na ducha.Cando me chamou, estaba na ducha.Cando starts a subordinate clause, so the unstressed pronoun goes before the verb.
Using the future after cando.
Cando chegarás, chámame.Cando chegues, chámame.For a future event, cando takes the present subjunctive, not the future indicative.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Cando connects the timing of events, with tense choices developed from familiar present and past uses.
Related Patterns
- que / quen / onde / cando / comoQuestion Words
Cando as a question word.
Level 1 - cando + SubjunctiveCando with Future Reference
Cando with the subjunctive for future events.
Level 3 - Pronouns Before the Verb in Subordinate Clauses
Why pronouns go before the verb after cando.
Level 3 - mentresWhile: Mentres
Another time word, for actions happening at the same time.
Level 3 - se + PresentReal Conditions with Se
Conditions with se, which often work like cando for habits.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice cando in Bubblegum
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