B2 · Unit 24 · 45 words, 2 texts with translation
Agree on the terms of a new job
Set conditions and add a catch: "as long as", "unless", "in case". Read a work contract all the way down to the fine print.
Texts in this unit
Grammar in this unit
Conditions with a catch: siempre que, a no ser que, con tal de que, en caso de que, sin que
When you negotiate, a plain "if" isn't enough: you need to say "yes, as long as…", "unless…", "in case…". These five connectors share one rule: the verb after each of them is in the subjunctive. A condition isn't a fact yet: nobody knows if it will be met.
| Connector | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
siempre que | as long as | Puedes trabajar desde casa siempre que avises antes. — You can work from home as long as you let us know in advance. |
con tal de que | as long as, provided that | Vengo el sábado con tal de que me den el lunes libre. — I'll come in on Saturday as long as they give me Monday off. |
a no ser que | unless | Empiezo el lunes, a no ser que usted diga otra cosa. — I'll start on Monday, unless you say otherwise (formal). |
en caso de que | in case, if | En caso de que llegue tarde, le aviso. — If I happen to be late, I'll let you know (formal). |
sin que | without (someone doing something) | No firmes nada sin que yo lo vea. — Don't sign anything without me seeing it. |
Which subjunctive form. About now or the future, use the present subjunctive (avises, diga). When you tell a story about the past, use the imperfect subjunctive (avisara, dijera; unit 13): Me dijeron que podía trabajar desde casa siempre que avisara antes. — They told me I could work from home as long as I let them know in advance.
Compare with si. After si the verb is in the normal form (indicative): si avisas — if you let us know. After these five connectors, only the subjunctive.
English helps here: after "as long as", "unless" and "in case" you never say "will" (not "unless it will rain"). Spanish doesn't use the future there either: it uses the subjunctive.
Common mistakes:
- the future or the normal form after the connector: ✗ siempre que avisarás, ✗ en caso de que llega. Correct: siempre que avises, en caso de que llegue;
- an extra no after a no ser que: the "not" is already built into it (✗ a no ser que no llueva). Correct: a no ser que llueva — unless it rains.
Siempre que: "as long as" or "whenever"
Siempre que has two meanings. The words are the same; only the verb form after it tells them apart.
Form after siempre que | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| subjunctive | as long as | Puedes llegar tarde siempre que avises. — You can come in late as long as you let us know. |
| normal form (indicative) | whenever, every time | Siempre que llego tarde, mi jefa lo nota. — Whenever I'm late, my boss notices. |
The normal form states a fact: this is what happens, or what used to happen. Any tense works:
- Siempre que firmo algo, lo leo dos veces. — Whenever I sign something, I read it twice.
- Siempre que venía a Valencia, nos traía un regalo. — Whenever he came to Valencia, he brought us a present.
The subjunctive sets a condition: the thing hasn't happened yet.
- Te dejo el coche siempre que me lo devuelvas el domingo. — I'll lend you the car as long as you give it back on Sunday.
How to check yourself. Try "every time" in English. If it fits, use the normal form. If it doesn't, and you really mean "only if", use the subjunctive.
One case where the two meanings meet. When "whenever" is about the future, Spanish goes back to the subjunctive, just like after cuando (B1, unit 21): Llámame siempre que quieras. — Call me whenever you want. The moments you're talking about haven't happened yet either.
Common mistake: using the normal form out of habit in a condition. ✗ puedes llegar tarde siempre que avisas. Correct: siempre que avises.
Same person: sin + infinitive, con tal de + infinitive
You already know this rule: same person, infinitive (quiero ir — I want to go); two different people, que + subjunctive (quiero que vayas — I want you to go; B1, unit 18). The connectors in this unit work the same way.
| Same person: infinitive | Different people: que + subjunctive |
|---|---|
| Firmé sin leer el contrato. — I signed the contract without reading it. | Firmé sin que nadie me lo explicara. — I signed without anyone explaining it to me. |
| Hago lo que sea con tal de terminar hoy. — I'll do whatever it takes to finish today. | Hago lo que sea con tal de que termines hoy. — I'll do whatever it takes for you to finish today. |
| En caso de llegar tarde, avise. — If you're going to be late, let us know (formal). | En caso de que llegue tarde el tren, avíseme. — If the train is late, let me know (formal). |
After en caso de you often find just a noun: en caso de duda — if in doubt; en caso de incendio — in case of fire (you see it on the sign next to every elevator).
A no ser que and siempre que have no short version. They always take que and a conjugated verb, even when it's the same person: Iré a la reunión, a no ser que tenga fiebre. — I'll go to the meeting unless I have a fever.
Without + -ing. English says "without reading", "without saying a word". Spanish uses sin + infinitive here, never the gerund: not ✗ sin leyendo, but sin leer. Se fue sin decir nada. — He left without saying anything.
One more detail. Sin is already negative, so after it you use nada, nadie, nunca, where English uses "anything", "anyone", "ever". No second no is needed: sin decir nada; sin que nadie lo sepa — without anyone knowing.
Words in this unit
a no ser que — unless
Mañana trabajo desde casa, a no ser que haya reunión. — I'm working from home tomorrow, unless there's a meeting.
con tal de que — as long as, provided that
Acepto el puesto con tal de que me dejen trabajar un día desde casa. — I'll take the job as long as they let me work from home one day.
en caso de que — in case, if
Lleva el paraguas, en caso de que llueva. — Take the umbrella in case it rains.
sin que — without (someone doing something)
No cambian las condiciones sin que tú lo sepas. — They don't change the terms without you knowing.
no sea que — in case, so that... not
Lleva una chaqueta, no sea que haga frío. — Take a jacket in case it's cold.
letra pequeña — fine print
Lee siempre la letra pequeña. — Always read the fine print.
el periodo — period
El periodo de prueba es de dos meses. — The trial period is two months.
temporal — temporary
Tengo un contrato temporal de seis meses. — I have a six-month fixed-term contract.
indefinido — permanent, open-ended
Por fin me han hecho un contrato indefinido. — They've finally given me a permanent contract.
laboral — work, employment, labor
Es un contrato laboral de un año. — It's a one-year employment contract.
bruto — gross (before taxes)
Gano treinta mil euros brutos al año. — I make thirty thousand euros gross a year.
neto — net (after taxes)
Mi sueldo neto es de mil quinientos euros. — My net salary is one thousand five hundred euros.
el convenio — agreement, collective agreement
Mi sueldo es el del convenio. — My salary is the one in the collective agreement.
el sindicato — labor union, union
Voy a preguntar en el sindicato. — I'm going to ask at the union.
la antigüedad — seniority, time with the company
Tengo tres años de antigüedad en la empresa. — I have three years of seniority at the company.
la categoría — category, job grade
¿Qué categoría pone en tu contrato? — What job grade does it say in your contract?
la función — function, duty, role
¿Cuáles son tus funciones en la empresa? — What are your duties at the company?
el incentivo — incentive, bonus
Mi sueldo tiene un incentivo por ventas. — My salary includes a sales bonus.
el rendimiento — performance, output
Su rendimiento en el trabajo es muy bueno. — His performance at work is very good.
híbrido — hybrid
Tengo un trabajo híbrido: tres días en la oficina y dos en casa. — I have a hybrid job: three days at the office and two at home.
modificar — to modify, to change
No pueden modificar el contrato sin avisarte. — They can't modify the contract without telling you.
renunciar — to give up, to turn down
No pienso renunciar a mis días libres. — I'm not going to give up my days off.
repasar — to go over, to review
Voy a repasar el contrato antes de firmar. — I'm going to go over the contract before signing.
ampliar — to extend, to expand, to increase
Quieren ampliar el equipo. — They want to expand the team.
reducir — to reduce, to cut
Quiero reducir mis horas de trabajo. — I want to reduce my working hours.
pactar — to agree on, to negotiate
Pactamos un sueldo de dos mil euros brutos. — We agreed on a salary of two thousand euros gross.
prever — to foresee, to expect, to provide for
El contrato prevé veinte días de vacaciones. — The contract provides for twenty days of vacation.
figurar — to appear, to be listed
Mi nombre no figura en la lista. — My name isn't on the list.
pasar por alto — to overlook, to miss
No quiero pasar por alto ningún detalle. — I don't want to overlook any details.
desempeñar — to hold (a position), to perform (a role)
¿Qué función desempeña tu jefa? — What role does your boss play?
la letra — letter, print, handwriting
Esta letra es muy pequeña para mí. — This print is really small for me.
la lupa — magnifying glass
Necesito una lupa para leer esto. — I need a magnifying glass to read this.
ajeno — other people's, unrelated
No quiero meterme en asuntos ajenos. — I don't want to get involved in other people's business.
abusivo — unfair, outrageous, abusive
Esta cláusula me parece abusiva. — This clause seems unfair to me.
exclusivo — exclusive, only for
El contrato pide dedicación exclusiva. — The contract requires you to work only for this company.
confidencial — confidential
Esta información es confidencial. — This information is confidential.
provisional — provisional, temporary
Es un horario provisional. — It's a provisional schedule.
definitivo — final, definitive
Esta es la fecha definitiva. — This is the final date.
inmediato — immediate
Necesito una respuesta inmediata. — I need an immediate answer.
posterior — later, subsequent
Esta cláusula es posterior al contrato. — This clause dates from after the contract.
la penalización — penalty, fee
Si cancelas, hay una penalización de cien euros. — If you cancel, there's a penalty of a hundred euros.
la jubilación — retirement
Mi padre está cerca de la jubilación. — My father is close to retirement.
opcional — optional
El curso es opcional. — The course is optional.
siempre que — as long as, whenever
Puedes trabajar desde casa, siempre que avises antes. — You can work from home, as long as you let us know in advance.
tener que ver con — to have to do with
Esto no tiene nada que ver con el trabajo. — This has nothing to do with work.
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