Spanish · B1 · Family moment
Little Causes Count in Spanish
Learn how to describe cause-and-effect relationships during your baby's daily activities. This guide focuses on expressing consequences that have already happened using result clauses.
What you'll learn
- Express observed consequences using 'de modo que' and 'así que'.
- Describe baby's actions and their immediate results in the past tense.
- Distinguish between a result (what happened) and a purpose (what was intended).
Spanish phrases for little causes count
Pataleaste en la bañera, de modo que se me mojó la manga.
You kicked in the bath, with the result that my sleeve got wet.
'Se me mojó' uses the accidental 'se' to show the sleeve got wet unintentionally.
Tu biberón goteó, de manera que se te humedeció el body.
Your bottle leaked, with the result that your vest got damp.
'Body' is the common Spanish term for a baby's onesie/vest.
Empujaste la pelota, de modo que rodó debajo del sofá.
You pushed the ball, with the result that it rolled under the sofa.
'Rodó' is the preterite of 'rodar' (to roll).
Te quitaste el calcetín, de manera que un pie se quedó descalzo.
You pulled off your sock, with the result that one foot was bare.
'Quedarse descalzo' is the common way to say 'to be left barefoot'.
Se te cayó la cuchara, así que tuve que lavarla.
Your spoon fell down, with the result that I had to wash it.
'Así que' is a very common, slightly more informal way to express 'with the result that'.
Hubo ruido en la habitación, de modo que te despertaste.
The room became noisy, with the result that you woke up.
'Te despertaste' is the reflexive form of waking up.
Te estiraste un poco más, de manera que pudiste tocar a tu osito.
You reached a little farther, with the result that you could touch your teddy.
'Estirarse' means to stretch oneself or reach out.
Te frotaste papilla en el pelo, de modo que tuvimos que lavarlo.
You rubbed porridge into your hair, with the result that we had to wash it.
'Papilla' refers to any pureed baby food or porridge.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
Biberón
Baby bottle
Commonly shortened to 'bibe' in informal speech.
Body
Baby vest / Onesie
Borrowed from English but used universally in Spain for this garment.
Papilla
Porridge / Mush
Refers to the consistency of the food, typical for early weaning.
Descalzo
Barefoot
Used as an adjective to describe the state of having no shoes or socks.
Result Clauses (Consecutivas)
In Spanish, we use connectors like 'de modo que', 'de manera que', and 'así que' to show the result of an action. When the result is a proven fact or an observed event (like the ones in this lesson), we use the Indicative mood. This is different from purpose clauses ('para que'), which express intent and require the Subjunctive.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Result (Fact) | Action + de modo que + Indicative | Llovió, de modo que nos mojamos (It rained, so we got wet). |
| Purpose (Intent) | Action + para que + Subjunctive | Puse el toldo para que no nos mojáramos (I put up the awning so we wouldn't get wet). |
More examples
Tiraste el juguete, de modo que ahora está en el suelo.
You threw the toy, with the result that it is now on the floor.
Simple cause and effect in the present state.
Hiciste mucha fuerza, así que rompiste el papel.
You used a lot of strength, so you broke the paper.
'Así que' is the most frequent connector in spoken Spanish for results.