Spanish Grammar Bank
AS SOON AS IN SPANISH
As soon as in Spanish is most commonly expressed by the adverbial phrase en cuanto, although there are other alternative expressions.
Let’s have a look at the most important ones.
HOW TO USE “EN CUANTO”
En cuanto is the most widely used and versatile adverbial phrase in Spanish that is equivalent to “as soon as”.
The use of en cuanto is considered appropriate for both informal and formal contexts, either in spoken or written language.
The mood of the verb that follows en cuanto is dependent on the timeframe and the certainty of the action:
1. Subjunctive Mood
When en cuanto is used to introduce a time-related clause referring to a future or hypothetical action, it is followed by a verb in the subjunctive mood, as the event or scenario has not yet occurred and is still an uncertainty.
En cuanto gane la lotería, me compro un coche.
As soon as I win the lottery, I will buy myself a car.2. Indicative Mood
When en cuanto is used to introduce a time-related clause referring to past or habitual actions, it is followed instead by a verb in the indicative mood.
Me compré un coche en cuanto gané la lotería.
I bought myself a car as soon as I won the lotteryPATTERN
En cuanto + verb
| En cuanto sepas algo, avísame. | As soon as you know something, let me know. |
| En cuanto salga de trabajar, me iré al gimnasio. | As soon as I leave work, I will go to the gym. |
View More Examples:
| Nos tomamos un café en cuanto acabamos de comer. | We had a coffee as soon as we finished eating. |
| Envié la carta en cuanto la acabé de escribir. | I sent the letter as soon as I finished writing it. |
| En cuanto tenga un momento libre, iré a ver a mi abuela. | As soon as I have a free moment, I will go visit my grandmother. |
| En cuanto empecé a hablar, se hizo silencio. | As soon as I started talking, there was silence. |
HOW TO USE “TAN PRONTO COMO”
In Spanish, the expression tan pronto como is a more formal equivalent to “as soon as”.
The adverbial phrase tan pronto como is synonymous with en cuanto and is often used interchangeably in most contexts.
Depending on whether tan pronto como is used to introduce a time-related clause referring to a future or hypothetical action or to a past or habitual action, it is followed by either the subjunctive or the indicative mood.
PATTERN
Tan pronto como + verb
| Tan pronto se fueron, empezó a llover. | As soon as they left, it started to rain. |
| Venme a ver tan pronto sea posible. | Como and see me as soon as it’s possible. |
View More Examples:
| Tan pronto sepamos los resultados, te informamos. | As soon as we know the results, we will inform you. |
| Tan pronto acabaron de hablar, empezamos a comer. | As soon as they finished talking, we started to eat. |
| Te llamé tan pronto supe lo ocurrido. | I called you as soon as I found out what happened. |
| Tan pronto mejoren las circunstancias, hablamos. | As soon as the circumstances improve, let’s talk. |
HOW TO USE “APENAS”
In Spanish, the expression apenas translates to “barely” or “hardly”.
However, it can also be used as the equivalent of “as soon as” in certain contexts, when used temporarily and emphasizing immediacy.
The use of the expression apenas comes across as less formal than other phrases such as en cuanto and tan pronto como.
PATTERN
Apenas + verb
| Apenas acabes, me llamas. | As soon as you finish, call me. |
| Apenas llegué, me estaban esperando. | As soon as I arrived, they were waiting for me. |
View More Examples:
| Se fueron apenas acabamos de comer. | They left as soon as we finished eating. |
| Ella se puso a reir apenas empezamos a ver la película. | She started laughing as soon as we started to watch the movie. |
| Pásate por mi casa apenas acabes de trabajar. | Pass by my house as soon as you get off work. |
| Apenas me desperté, sonó el teléfono. | As soon as I woke up, the phone rang. |
HOW TO USE “NADA MÁS”
The expression nada más is another way to express “as soon as” in Spanish, although in a more informal manner.
The phrase nada más is commonly and colloquially used, particularly in spoken language.
PATTERN
Nada más + verb
| Nada más acabar la función, nos fuimos. | As soon as the show ended, we left. |
| Nada más irme, llegaron todos los demás. | As soon as I left, everyone else arrived. |
View More Examples:
| Te lo digo nada más tener noticias. | I will tell you as soon as I have news. |
| Nada más salir de casa, empezó a llover. | As soon as I left the house, it started to rain. |
| Él empezó a roncar nada más dormirse. | He started to snore as soon as he fell asleep. |
| Nada más entrar en casa, el perro corre hacia la puerta. | As soon as I enter the house, the dog runs to the door. |
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FAQs
What does “en cuanto” mean in Spanish?
“En cuanto” means “as soon as” and is used to express that one action happens immediately after another.
Is “en cuanto” always followed by the subjunctive?
It depends on the context—use the subjunctive when referring to a future or uncertain event, and the indicative when referring to something habitual or in the past.
What other expressions mean “as soon as” in Spanish?
Some common alternatives include “tan pronto como”, “apenas”, and “luego que”.
Can I use “en cuanto” at the beginning of a sentence?
Yes, it can go at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence, depending on the structure.
Is there a difference between “tan pronto como” and “en cuanto”?
No major difference—they are generally interchangeable in meaning and use, though regional preferences may vary slightly.
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