Conjunctions and Connectors in Catalan

In Brief

Catalan connectors show how ideas relate: i adds, o offers a choice, però contrasts, and perquè gives a reason. Com que, quan, si, mentre, and encara que introduce a clause (a group of words containing a verb) about cause, time, condition, simultaneous action, or concession. Start by joining short statements, then learn which verb mood follows each connector.

Overview

At A2, connectors let you move beyond a list of separate statements. Instead of saying Tinc un examen. Estudio (“I have an exam. I’m studying”), you can show the relationship directly: Estudio perquè tinc un examen (“I’m studying because I have an exam”). The result sounds more natural and gives the listener a clearer path through your meaning.

A conjunction is a linking word such as “and,” “but,” or “because.” Some conjunctions join equal elements: two nouns, two actions, or two complete ideas. Others introduce a subordinate clause (a part of a sentence that depends on another part), as in quan plou (“when it rains”). You do not need advanced grammar to use the common patterns, but paying attention to clause order and punctuation will make your Catalan much easier to follow.

The nine core forms in this article cover several different relationships. English often has close equivalents, but the match is not always one-to-one: perquè is not the same as per què, mentre que can mean “whereas,” and advanced uses of encara que depend on whether the speaker presents something as a fact or a possibility.

How It Works

Joining equal words and ideas: i, o, però

These three connectors coordinate elements of equal importance.

Connector	Basic meaning	What it links
i	and	additions: nouns, adjectives, actions, or clauses
o	or	alternatives or choices
però	but	contrasting statements or qualities

With i, the joined elements normally have the same grammatical role:

• cafè i te — coffee and tea
• petit i còmode — small and comfortable
• Treballa i estudia. — He/She works and studies.

Unlike Spanish y, Catalan i does not change before a word beginning with an i sound: pares i fills (“parents and children”), cultura i història (“culture and history”). Likewise, o remains o: set o vuit (“seven or eight”).

Use però when the second idea limits or contrasts with the first. In writing, a comma normally comes before it when it joins clauses:

• És lluny, però hi podem anar amb tren. — It is far away, but we can go there by train.

Giving a reason: perquè and com que

Both perquè and com que can introduce a cause, but their usual placement and emphasis differ.

Perquè answers “why?” and commonly follows the result or action:

result/action + perquè + reason

• No surto perquè estic cansat. — I’m not going out because I’m tired.

Com que presents the reason as background information. It is especially natural at the beginning of the sentence:

com que + reason, + result/action

• Com que estic cansat, no surto. — Since/As I’m tired, I’m not going out.

The causal clause normally uses the indicative (the ordinary verb mood used to present information as real): perquè tinc, com que plou. At a basic level, treat perquè as “because” and com que as sentence-initial “since/as.”

Keep the spelling together. Perquè means “because” in this use. Per què, written as two words, is used in questions meaning “why” or “for what”: Per què estudies català? (“Why are you studying Catalan?”).

Expressing time: quan and mentre

Use quan for the time at which something happens. It can introduce a repeated event, a past event, or a future event:

• Quan fa bon temps, dinem al balcó. — When the weather is good, we eat lunch on the balcony.
• Quan vaig arribar, la botiga era tancada. — When I arrived, the shop was closed.

Use mentre when two actions or situations overlap in time:

• Escolto música mentre cuino. — I listen to music while I cook.

Clause order is flexible. When the time clause comes first, a comma helps mark the boundary:

• Mentre tu prepares l’amanida, jo paro taula.
• Jo paro taula mentre tu prepares l’amanida.

For a future event that has not happened yet, careful Catalan commonly uses the subjunctive (a verb mood used here for an anticipated event) after quan: Quan arribis, truca’m (“When you arrive, call me”). This is a later-level refinement; at A2, learn the whole phrase as a useful pattern.

Setting a condition: si

A condition says what must happen for another result to be possible. For open, realistic conditions, use:

si + present indicative, + present / future / imperative

An imperative is a command form.

• Si tinc temps, hi vaig. — If I have time, I go there.
• Si demà fa sol, anirem a la platja. — If it is sunny tomorrow, we will go to the beach.
• Si tens temps, vine. — If you have time, come.

As in English, either clause can come first. A comma is useful after a fronted si clause, but normally not before a final one:

• Si vols, podem començar.
• Podem començar si vols.

Do not automatically copy English will into the si clause. Standard Catalan normally uses the present there for a realistic future condition: Si plou demà, ens quedarem a casa, not si plourà demà in this conditional meaning.

Conceding a point: encara que

Encara que means “although,” “even though,” or “even if.” It introduces information that might seem likely to prevent the main action—but does not:

encara que + obstacle, + unexpected result

• Encara que és car, m’agrada. — Although it is expensive, I like it.
• Hi anirem encara que plogui. — We’ll go even if it rains.

The first example presents the price as a fact, so it has the indicative és. The second treats rain as a possibility, so it has the subjunctive plogui. Beginners can first use encara que + indicative for known facts; the mood contrast is explained further under Advanced Use.

Examples in Context

Catalan	English	Note
Vull pa i formatge.	I want bread and cheese.	i adds two nouns.
La Júlia treballa i estudia al vespre.	Júlia works and studies in the evening.	Two actions share one subject.
Vols aigua o suc?	Do you want water or juice?	o presents alternatives.
Podem anar-hi avui o demà.	We can go there today or tomorrow.	A choice between times.
El pis és petit, però té molta llum.	The apartment is small, but it gets a lot of light.	The second quality contrasts with the first.
Estudio perquè tinc un examen.	I’m studying because I have an exam.	The reason follows the action.
Com que no hi ha autobusos, agafarem un taxi.	Since there are no buses, we’ll take a taxi.	Background cause comes first.
Quan plou, em quedo a casa.	When it rains, I stay home.	A repeated situation.
Et trucaré quan arribi a l’hotel.	I’ll call you when I arrive at the hotel.	Future time; arribi is subjunctive.
Si tens temps, vine.	If you have time, come.	Present condition plus command.
Anirem a passejar si no fa massa fred.	We’ll go for a walk if it isn’t too cold.	The condition follows the result.
Ella llegeix mentre espera el tren.	She reads while she waits for the train.	Two simultaneous actions.
Mentre jo faig el sopar, tu pots posar la taula.	While I make dinner, you can set the table.	Different subjects in overlapping actions.
Encara que és car, m’agrada.	Although it is expensive, I like it.	The high price is presented as a fact.
Vindrà encara que estigui cansada.	She’ll come even if she is tired.	The obstacle is possible or not treated as decisive.

Common Mistakes

Confusing perquè with per què

• Wrong: No vinc per què estic malalt.
• Right: No vinc perquè estic malalt.
• Why: The causal conjunction “because” is the single word perquè. Use per què in a question: Per què no vens? (“Why aren’t you coming?”).

Using però and a second contrast connector together

• Wrong: Encara que plou, però sortim.
• Right: Encara que plou, sortim.
• Also right: Plou, però sortim.
• Why: Encara que already marks the concession. In standard writing, do not add però to the main clause in the same construction. English learners sometimes produce this double marking when mentally building “although … but.”

Putting a future form after conditional si

• Wrong: Si tindré temps, et trucaré.
• Right: Si tinc temps, et trucaré.
• Why: In an open future condition, Catalan normally uses the present indicative after si, even though the condition refers to the future.

Treating com que like a word-for-word “because” everywhere

• Awkward: No hi vaig com que estic cansat.
• Natural: Com que estic cansat, no hi vaig.
• Also natural: No hi vaig perquè estic cansat.
• Why: Causal com que is most natural when it introduces background information, often at the start. After the result, perquè is usually the straightforward choice.

Using mentre que for every instance of “while”

• Wrong for simple simultaneity: Escolto música mentre que cuino.
• Natural: Escolto música mentre cuino.
• Why: Basic temporal “while” is mentre. Mentre que is especially useful for an explicit contrast meaning “whereas”: Jo prefereixo el mar, mentre que ella prefereix la muntanya.

Copying English punctuation mechanically

• Awkward: Compro pomes, i peres.
• Right: Compro pomes i peres.
• Why: Do not normally place a comma before i or o in a simple pair or list. Use a comma after a long introductory subordinate clause and usually before però when it joins two clauses.

Usage Notes

Clause order changes the flow, not usually the basic meaning

Compare No sortim perquè plou with Com que plou, no sortim. Both connect rain with staying in, but they organize the message differently. Perquè often supplies the explanation after the main point. Initial com que gives the explanation first, as information the speaker uses to set up the conclusion.

Time, condition, and concession clauses can also move:

• Quan acabi la reunió, t’escriuré.
• T’escriuré quan acabi la reunió.

The first version makes the timing the frame for the whole sentence. The second starts with the promised action and adds its timing afterward.

Subjects do not need to be repeated unnecessarily

Catalan often leaves out a subject pronoun when the verb form and context identify the person. A connector does not change that:

• Arribo a casa i preparo el sopar. — I arrive home and make dinner.

Because the same person performs both actions, repeating jo would normally be unnecessary. If the subject changes, make the new subject clear: Jo preparo el sopar mentre la Marta para taula (“I make dinner while Marta sets the table”).

Spoken and written choices

All nine core connectors are normal in both conversation and writing. In conversation, però may begin a response: Però jo no ho sabia! (“But I didn’t know!”). In organized writing, use these basic conjunctions for local links between clauses, then add broader discourse connectors as your level rises.

Beyond the Basics: Mood and Finer Contrasts

You do not need to master this section at A2, but these patterns explain forms you will soon encounter.

Indicative and subjunctive after encara que

The indicative presents the concession as an accepted fact. The subjunctive presents it as possible, hypothetical, already known but not important to the outcome, or simply irrelevant to the speaker’s decision.

Catalan	English	Interpretation
Encara que plou, sortirem.	Although it is raining, we’ll go out.	The speaker states that it is raining.
Encara que plogui, sortirem.	Even if it rains, we’ll go out.	Rain is possible, or it will not change the decision.
Encara que és difícil, ho entenc.	Although it is difficult, I understand it.	The difficulty is treated as a fact.
Encara que sigui difícil, ho intentaré.	Even if it is difficult, I’ll try.	The difficulty does not affect the intention.

English sometimes uses the same verb form in both meanings, so pay attention to whether the Catalan speaker asserts the information or treats it as a possibility.

Purpose perquè

Besides causal “because,” perquè can introduce a purpose meaning “so that.” A purpose clause commonly takes the subjunctive:

• T’ho explico perquè ho entenguis. — I’m explaining it to you so that you understand it.

Compare this with a cause:

• T’ho explico perquè m’ho has preguntat. — I’m explaining it because you asked me.

The first sentence looks forward to a desired result; the second gives an existing reason. Context and verb mood help distinguish them.

Sinó after a negative statement

When English “but” means “but rather” and corrects a negative idea, Catalan normally uses sinó, not però:

• No vull te, sinó cafè. — I don’t want tea, but rather coffee.
• No viu a Girona, sinó a Figueres. — He/She doesn’t live in Girona, but in Figueres.

Use però for contrast: Vull anar-hi, però no tinc temps (“I want to go, but I don’t have time”). Use sinó to replace the rejected item with the correct one.

Mentre versus mentre que

Mentre primarily locates simultaneous events. Mentre que can place two facts side by side in contrast:

• En Pau treballa des de casa, mentre que l’Anna va a l’oficina. — Pau works from home, whereas Anna goes to the office.

This contrastive use is useful in essays and explanations, but the shorter mentre remains the basic choice for two actions happening at the same time.

Practice Tips

1. Build connector chains from three short facts. Start with Plou. Estic cansat. Em quedo a casa. Then combine them: Com que plou i estic cansat, em quedo a casa. Check that every connector expresses a real relationship, not just a pause.
2. Learn causes in pairs. Take one idea and say it in both orders: No hi vaig perquè treballo and Com que treballo, no hi vaig. This makes the information structure feel natural instead of turning com que into a mechanical synonym.
3. Sort examples by meaning while listening or reading. Keep five headings—addition, contrast, cause, time, and condition—and collect one real sentence under each. For future clauses, underline forms such as arribi after quan and present forms such as tinc after conditional si.

Related Concepts

• Next step: Discourse Connectors — expand from clause-level links to connectors such as d’altra banda, no obstant això, a més a més, and en definitiva for organizing longer speech and writing.