sen que + Subjunctive
Without: Sen Que
Sen que + subjunctive means without someone doing something: Saíu sen que ninguén o vise (he left without anyone seeing him).
How It Works
The pattern
Main clause + sen que + subjunctive. The clause says that something did not happen alongside the main action.
Which subjunctive?
- Present or future: present subjunctive. Os nenos xogan no parque sen que os pais se preocupen (the children play in the park without the parents worrying).
- Past: past subjunctive. Saíu sen que ninguén o vise; Entrei na casa sen que me oísen.
The indicative is never used after sen que, because the action did not actually happen.
Same subject: sen + infinitive. When the person is the same in both parts, drop que and use the infinitive: Marchou sen dicir nada (she left without saying anything). Compare the choice between an infinitive and the subjunctive.
Pronouns. A pronoun goes before the verb after sen que: sen que me oísen, sen que ninguén o vise. Words like ninguén also pull the pronoun forward (see indefinite subjects).
Examples (6)
- Saíu sen que ninguén o vise.
He left without anyone seeing him.
Word by Word: He-left without that no-one him saw.
Vise is the past subjunctive of ver.
- Entrei na casa sen que me oísen.
I came into the house without them hearing me.
Oísen is the past subjunctive of oír. The pronoun me goes before the verb.
- Non podes marchar sen que che dea o recibo.
You cannot leave without me giving you the receipt.
Dea is the present subjunctive of dar.
- Os nenos xogan no parque sen que os pais se preocupen.
The children play in the park without their parents worrying.
A present situation takes the present subjunctive: preocupen.
- Pasaron tres anos sen que soubésemos nada del.
Three years went by without us hearing anything about him.
Soubésemos is the past subjunctive of saber for nós.
- Marchou sen dicir nada.
She left without saying anything.
The subject is the same, so Galician uses sen + infinitive, not sen que.
Common Mistakes
Using the indicative after sen que.
Saíu sen que ninguén o viu.Saíu sen que ninguén o vise.Sen que always takes the subjunctive, because the action did not happen.
Using sen que when the subject is the same person.
Marchei sen que eu dixese adeus.Marchei sen dicir adeus.When the same person does both actions, use sen + infinitive.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Sen que introduces an absent circumstance with a subjunctive clause.
- con / senWith and Without: Con and Sen
Know sen expressing absence.
Level 1 - Sequence of Tenses With the Subjunctive
Know selection of present versus imperfect subjunctive.
Level 4 - When to Use the Personal Infinitive
Understand the distinction between a shared subject and a dependent action with its own subject.
Level 4
Related Patterns
- para que + SubjunctivePurpose with Para Que
Another conjunction that always takes the subjunctive.
Level 3 - The Imperfect Subjunctive
The past subjunctive forms used after sen que for the past.
Level 4 - Personal Infinitive or Subjunctive
Explains when to use an infinitive and when to use a subjunctive clause.
Level 4 - Pronouns Before the Verb After Indefinite Subjects
Explains why the pronoun comes before the verb in sen que ninguén o vise.
Level 4 - no canto de / en vez deInstead of: No Canto De
Another way to talk about an action that does not happen.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice sen que + Subjunctive in Bubblegum
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