Subjunctive After abans que
Abans que means before, and the verb after it is in the subjunctive.
How It Works
Abans que joins two clauses and says that the first action happens before the second. The verb after it is in the subjunctive, even when the main clause is about the present or the future.
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| different subjects: abans que + subjunctive | Manjam abans que arribe Joan. (We eat before Joan arrives.) |
| same subject: abans de + infinitive | Abans de partir, barram la pòrta. (Before leaving, we close the door.) |
The clause with abans que can come first or last. The subjunctive stays the same: Abans que plòga, tornam a l'ostal. (Before it rains, we go home.) After a past verb it takes the imperfect subjunctive, which has its own entry.
Abans also works alone as an adverb (abans, before) and before a noun (abans l'ivèrn, before winter). Only the form with que needs the subjunctive.
Examples (5)
- Manjam abans que arribe Joan.
We eat before Joan arrives.
Arribe: the -ar subjunctive, after abans que.
- Abans que plòga, tornam a l'ostal.
Before it rains, we go home.
Plòga: the subjunctive of plòure.
- Abans que Maria partisca, li telefòni.
Before Maria leaves, I call her.
Partisca: partir adds -isc- in the subjunctive.
- Barram la pòrta abans que sián aicí.
We close the door before they are here.
Sián: the subjunctive of èsser for eles.
- Abans de partir, barram la pòrta.
Before leaving, we close the door.
Same subject: abans de and the infinitive.
Common Mistakes
Using the indicative after abans que
Abans que ven Joan, manjam.Abans que venga Joan, manjam.Ven is the indicative. After abans que the verb is in the subjunctive: venga.
Using abans que with an infinitive
Abans que partir, barram la pòrta.Abans de partir, barram la pòrta.An infinitive follows abans de, never abans que.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Abans que takes the subjunctive, so the irregular subjunctive and the time-order words come first.
- Irregular Present Subjunctive
Know the irregular subjunctive, because the verb after abans que is in the subjunctive: Abans que plòga, tornam a l'ostal.
Level 5 - primièr, puèi, aprèp, abansOrdering Events
Know abans as a time word, because abans que is the same word with a clause: Manjam abans que arribe Joan.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- aprèp aver + ParticipleAfter Having Done
Aprèp aver is the opposite: after doing something.
Level 4 - Subjunctive After encara que
Encara que also takes the subjunctive.
Level 5 - Present Subjunctive of -ir and -re Verbs
The -ir and -re forms used after abans que.
Level 5 - Subjunctive After cal que
Cal que is the most frequent trigger.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice Subjunctive After abans que in Bubblegum
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