In conjunctions that require the subjunctive, when is "de" used?

Question

In the expressions...

antes (de) que con tal (de) que en caso (de) que

When do you use the "de"? I'm not sure how to explain this to my students.
Thanks!! Amanda

Answer 1

Here are a list of the adverbial conjunctions that introduce either a future action or state or speak of something hypothetical so will always need to be followed by the subjunctive. The 'de' is usually required but appears in brackets when it's optional.

Remember though that you will always need the que - even though there is often a nearly identical preposition that won't take the que.

antes (de) que before

con tal (de) que provided that

a fin de que so that;

a condición de que on the condition that

a menos que unless

a no ser que lest, unless

en caso de que in case

no sea que / no fuera que lest, so that ... not

para que so that

sin que without