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Today let’s continue with the linking words in Spanish. Click here to read the first part of the post. Let’s go for it!

1. aunque

Aunque no te guste, tendrás que hacerlo. [Even though you don’t like it, you will have to do it.]
Saldré esta noche aunque llueva. [I will go out tonight even if it rains.]
Aunque le he recomendado varias veces, aún no lo ha hecho. [Even though I have suggested to him many times, he still hasn’t done it.]
No lo podré creer aunque lo vea con mis propios ojos. [I won’t believe it even if I see it with my own eyes.]

We use the present indicative in the clause with aunque when the speaker has previous knowledge of the situation mentioned.

Aunque me dedico muchas horas al estudio, no consigo hablar español perfectamente. [Even though I dedicate many hours to studying, I can’t speak Spanish perfectly.]
Aunque llueve mucho aquí, es un lugar muy agradable para mí. [Even though it rains a lot here, it’s a very pleasant place for me.]

We use the subjunctive when we don’t have previous knowledge of the situation mentioned or maybe you’re not interested in showing or admitting this lack of knowledge.

Aunque me dedique muchas horas al estudio, no consiguiré hablar español perfectamente. [Even if I dedicate many hours to studying, I won’t be able to speak Spanish perfectly.]
Aunque me encante el contacto con el agua, no consigo nadar. [Even though I love the contact with water, I can’t swim.]

2. sin embargo

Sin embargo (however) has to come between commas or between semi-colon and comma, when it is being used in the middle of a sentence. When it comes at the end of a sentence it means “though”.

No se soportan, sin embargo, mantienen las apariencias en las reuniones sociales. [They can’ stand each other; however, they keep up appearances in social gatherings.]
Tenía muchos motivos para renunciar al cargo; sin embargo, no lo hizo. [He had many reasons to turn down the position; however, he didn’t do it.]
No tiene ganas; tiene constancia, sin embargo. [He doesn’t have stamina; he has constancy, however.]

3. Mientras/entretanto

Mientras me baño, pon la mesa, por favor. [While I take a bath, set the table, please.]
El niño se movía mucho en la cuna mientras dormía. [The baby was moving a lot in the crib while he was sleeping.]
¿Por qué no ves una película entretanto oímos música? [Why don’t you watch a movie while we listen to music?]

4. en cuanto / apenas

En cuanto lleguen los documentos, avísame. [As soon as the documents arrive, let me know.]
Te llamaré en cuanto llegue a casa. [I will call you as soon as I get home.]
En cuanto a este tema, ¿hay alguna duda? [Regarding this topic, any questions?]
El niño apenas alcanza la mesa. [The kids can barely reach the table.]
Apenas lo conozco. [I hardly know him.]
Apenas supo la noticia, se puso muy triste. [No sooner did he learn about the news, he was very sad.]

Linking words in Spanish – Part 01

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