The whys (the whys in Spanish) there are four in the spanish language(why; why; why; why) and each has a different function. They are used to introduce direct and indirect exclamatory and interrogative sentences; as a preposition plus relative pronoun or subordinate conjunction what; as a masculine noun indicating cause, motive or reason; and as a causal or final unstressed conjunction. In this topic, we will learn how to use each of them. It's time to go and keep reading!
Read too:Interrogative pronouns in Spanish
Summary about the porqués in spanish
There are four why in Spanish (why; why; why; why).
Why is used to introduce direct and indirect exclamatory and interrogative sentences.
Why is used as a preposition plus relative pronoun or conjunction subordinate what.
Why is used as substantive masculine that indicates cause, motive or reason.
Why is used as a causal or final unstressed conjunction.
Use of why in Spanish
→ why
It is formed by prepositionper and the interrogative what. It is used to introduce direct interrogative or exclamatory sentences and sentences (with question mark or exclamation symbols) or indirect (without signs that indicate interrogation or exclamation). The question is contained in the subordinate clause). Let's look at the examples.
Why Camila in the wine?
(Why didn't Camila come?)
I don't know why she didn't want to come.
(I don't know why she didn't want to come.)
Why beautiful paths we came!
(For what beautiful paths we came!)
→ why
It can be used in two ways:
Preposition per plus relative pronoun what:
It is generally used with article(he, la, them, las) between the two and can be replaced by another relative pronoun, such as what (which).
This is the place where we spent our last trip.
This is the place where we went on our last trip.
(This is the place we passed by on our last trip.)
Preposition per plus the subordinate conjunction what:
It is common in the case of verbs, nouns or adjectives governed by a complement introduced by the preposition per and which have a subordinate clause introduced by the conjunction what:
Laura was sick, so we chose not to present the project.
(Laura was sick, so we chose not to present the project.)
→ Why
It is a masculine noun equivalent to cause, motive or reason. It is usually preceded by an article or other determinant:
We did not understand the reason for his nervousness.
(We did not understand the why/the reason/the reason for his nervousness.)
→ Why
This conjunction can be used as:
causal conjunction:
The causal conjunction introduces subordinate clauses that indicate cause and can be replaced by other causal conjunctions, such as place thator ya what.
I didn't go to the school because I was sick.
(I didn't go to school because I was sick.)
final conjunction:
The final conjunction is equivalent to for what and is followed by a verb in the subjunctive.
I did everything possible because Juan had not arrived late for work.
(He did everything possible to make sure Juan wasn't late for work.)
Know more: the adverbs — the word class that modifies the meaning of other classes
Exercises solved on the whys
question 1
use it why corresponding (why, why, why, why) in each of the following sentences:
A) Alejandra at the vino a la fiesta _______ she is traveling.
B) ¿_______ don't listen to more Latin songs?
C) I don't understand the ______ of so much lack of respect in social networks.
D) I never understood _________ Camila and Juan rompieron.
E) The guide _________ la chica asked she was iraní.
Resolution:
Why
B) why
C) why
D) why
E) for (la) that
question 2
Complete with the correct sequence of porqués in Spanish:
— ¿________ still awake?
— ___________ I have insomnia. El camino ______ return home to me dio un poco de miedo.
— Pues no sé ________ ibas a tener miedo, es el camino de siempre.
— __________ is renovating the old house on the corner and you see horrible, as if it was a horror film.
Resolution:
Why; why; why; why; why.
By Renata Martins Gornattes
Spanish teacher
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/espanhol/os-porques-em-espanhol.htm