según + Indicative/Subjunctive
According To/Depending on
Según dicen las instrucciones reports what the instructions say. Según prefieras leaves the choice open. In según el pronóstico, según introduces a noun phrase, not a verb.
How It Works
1. A Source Named By A Noun
Según el pronóstico del tiempo, mañana lloverá means according to the weather forecast, it will rain tomorrow. Según introduces the noun phrase el pronóstico del tiempo. Lloverá belongs to the main clause; it is not a verb governed by según.
2. A Source Or Manner Expressed By A Clause
Según me dijo mi madre, la tienda cierra a las ocho reports a source. Dijo is inside the según clause and cierra is in the main clause. Lo hice según me explicaste presents the explanation as the manner followed. Indicative reports that content without independently proving it true.
3. Dependence On A Choice Or Developing Situation
Podemos ir a la playa o a la montaña, según prefieras leaves the choice to the other person. Subjunctive is natural for that open choice; it does not claim that a known preference is impossible. In Actuaremos según cambien las circunstancias, the future main clause sets a prospective frame for cambien.
4. An Embedded Relative Clause
Te pagaré según las horas que trabajes contains según + las horas, with que trabajes modifying horas. The prospective, open quantity is expressed inside the relative clause. Compare a report about hours already worked: Te pagué según las horas que trabajaste.
Related Mood Patterns
Temporal expressions also respond to an anticipated viewpoint. With aunque, known content can appear in subjunctive as a concession. Keep the syntax and intended presentation in view instead of applying a universal known/unknown rule.
Examples (5)
- Según el pronóstico del tiempo, mañana lloverá.
According to the weather forecast, it will rain tomorrow.
Word by Word: According to the forecast of the weather, tomorrow it will rain.
Según introduces the noun phrase el pronóstico del tiempo. Lloverá is the main-clause future indicative; the source phrase does not itself govern that verb’s mood.
- Te pagaré según las horas que trabajes.
I will pay you depending on the hours you work.
Word by Word: To you I will pay according to the hours that you work (subjunctive).
Trabajes belongs to the relative clause que trabajes modifying las horas. The future payment leaves the relevant quantity open; según itself is followed by the noun phrase las horas.
- El precio del hotel cambia según la temporada.
The price of the hotel changes depending on the season.
Word by Word: The price of the hotel changes according to the season.
Según la temporada is a noun phrase construction. No subordinate verb is present, so this example does not by itself illustrate a mood contrast.
- Cocina el arroz según dicen las instrucciones.
Cook the rice according to what the instructions say.
Word by Word: Cook the rice according to say the instructions.
Dicen is inside the reporting clause introduced by según. The sentence asks the listener to follow what the instructions state.
- Podemos ir a la playa o a la montaña, según prefieras.
We can go to the beach or the mountains, depending on what you prefer.
Word by Word: We can go to the beach or to the mountains, according to you prefer (subjunctive).
Prefieras leaves the destination to the other person’s choice. The subjunctive frames that choice as open rather than asserting one preference; it does not require that the preference be unknown to everyone.
Common Mistakes
Using a bare subjunctive as the verb of this independent statement.
Según el mapa, la ciudad esté al norte.Según el mapa, la ciudad está al norte.Está makes the independent assertion. Según el mapa names a source but does not license a free-standing esté. This is different from a genuine dependent choice clause such as según prefieras.
Omitting the written accent from según.
Actuaremos segun cambien las circunstancias.Actuaremos según cambien las circunstancias.Según carries a written accent. Cambien presents the changing circumstances within an anticipated frame; the rule does not depend simply on whether the situation is subjective.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn 'según + indicative/subjunctive', you need to understand the fundamental difference between the indicative mood (used for facts and reality) and the subjunctive mood (used for hypothetical, unknown, or future situations). You must also be comfortable conjugating verbs in both moods to apply the correct form depending on whether the information is a known fact or a variable possibility.
Related Patterns
- cuando/después de que/hasta que + SubjunctiveTemporal Subjunctive
Temporal expressions often use subjunctive in a prospective frame, but the exact construction matters. Según can also be followed by a noun phrase with no mood-bearing subordinate verb.
Level 3 - de modo que/de manera que + Indicative/SubjunctiveResult vs. Purpose
De modo que contrasts an asserted consequence with an intended outcome. An intended outcome may be achieved; the distinction is not real versus unreal.
Level 5 - si + Imperfect Subjunctive + ConditionalUnreal Si Clauses (Present)
Si introduces conditions with its own tense and mood restrictions. Do not mechanically transfer those forms to según clauses.
Level 4 - Subjunctive in Relative Clauses
In según las horas que trabajes, trabajes is part of a relative clause modifying horas. The relative’s interpretation and the future frame determine its mood.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice según + Indicative/Subjunctive in Bubblegum
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