Spanish · B1 · Family moment
Time With Limits in Spanish
Setting boundaries with 'as long as' helps children understand the relationship between their actions and their freedoms. In Spanish, these conditions often use 'siempre que' or 'mientras' followed by the subjunctive mood to indicate that the permission is dependent on a specific behavior or state.
What you'll learn
- Use 'siempre que' to express a condition equivalent to 'provided that'.
- Use 'mientras' to describe a duration that limits an action.
- Master the use of the Present Subjunctive in conditional time clauses.
Spanish phrases for time with limits
Siempre que te quedes donde pueda verte, puedes jugar cerca de la puerta del colegio.
As long as you stay where I can see you, you can play near the school gate.
'Siempre que' triggers the subjunctive 'te quedes' here.
Puedes usar la tableta siempre que mantengas el volumen bajo.
You can use the tablet as long as you keep the sound low.
'Mantengas' is the subjunctive form of 'mantener' (to keep/maintain).
Mientras tu amigo esté aquí, la tableta se queda en el armario.
As long as your friend is here, the tablet stays in the cupboard.
'Esté' is used because the friend's presence is a temporary condition.
Me quedaré a tu lado mientras necesites ayuda con los deberes.
I'll stay beside you as long as you need help with your homework.
'Mientras' indicates the duration of the support.
Siempre que todos sigan las reglas, podéis seguir jugando.
As long as everyone follows the rules, you can keep playing.
'Sigan' is the subjunctive of 'seguir' (to follow).
Puedes quedarte con el libro de la biblioteca mientras lo sigas necesitando para tu proyecto.
You can keep the library book as long as you still need it for your project.
'Sigas necesitando' uses the progressive structure in the subjunctive.
Mientras te duela el diente, elegiremos comida blanda.
As long as your tooth hurts, we'll choose soft food.
'Duela' is the subjunctive of 'doler' (to hurt).
Esperaremos bajo el refugio mientras esté lloviendo.
We'll wait under the shelter as long as it is raining.
'Esté lloviendo' highlights the ongoing condition.
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
siempre que
as long as / provided that
Commonly used to set conditions for permission.
mientras
while / as long as
Focuses more on the duration of a condition.
blanda
soft
Used here to describe food that doesn't require hard chewing.
deberes
homework
Standard term used in Spain; 'tarea' is more common in Latin America.
Subjunctive with Conditional Time Clauses
When using 'siempre que' or 'mientras' to express a condition for a future or ongoing event, Spanish requires the Subjunctive mood. This indicates that the main action is dependent on the subordinate clause remaining true.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Siempre que + [Present Subjunctive], [Main Clause] | Siempre que te portes bien, iremos al parque. |
| Duration | Mientras + [Present Subjunctive], [Main Clause] | Mientras haga sol, podemos estar fuera. |
More examples
Mientras no grites, podemos quedarnos en la biblioteca.
As long as you don't shout, we can stay in the library.
A negative condition using the subjunctive 'grites'.
Podemos ir al cine siempre que termines tu cena.
We can go to the cinema as long as you finish your dinner.
The permission (going to the cinema) depends on finishing the meal.