B2 Spanish grammar

Spanish Result Clauses: Tan, Tanto, De Modo Que, and De Ahí Que

Spanish result clauses can describe a factual consequence, a result intended by an action, or a logical conclusion in a formal argument. Degree expressions, connector choice, and mood keep those meanings distinct.

Degree result

tan + adjective/adverb / tanto + noun + que + factual result

Tanto agrees with its noun as tanto, tanta, tantos, or tantas; tan does not change.

Actual or intended result

result connector + indicative (actual) / subjunctive (intended or de ahí que)

Indicative reports an achieved consequence; subjunctive can express a desired outcome or follow de ahí que.

Spanish result patterns

Meaning	Pattern	Example
degree with adjective/adverb	tan … que	Era tan tarde que nos fuimos.
degree with noun	tanto/a/os/as … que	Había tanta niebla que cancelaron los vuelos.
actual consequence	de modo que + indicative	Cerró la puerta, de modo que nadie entró.
intended outcome	de modo que + subjunctive	Cerró la puerta de modo que nadie entrara.
formal inference	por lo tanto + indicative	Faltan datos; por lo tanto, es provisional.
formal consequence	de ahí que + subjunctive	Faltan datos, de ahí que sea provisional.

Punctuation helps distinguish an added actual result from a purpose-like intended result.

Spanish result clauses: Build factual degree results with tan or tanto

Use tan plus an adjective or adverb, or tanto and its agreeing forms with nouns, followed by que and the indicative for the factual result.

Había tanta niebla que cancelaron los vuelos.

There was so much fog that they cancelled the flights.Tanta agrees with niebla and que introduces the actual consequence.

Quick check

He spoke so quietly that nobody heard him.

Distinguish actual and intended results

Use de modo que or de manera que with the indicative for an actual consequence. Use the subjunctive when the phrase means in such a way that and presents an intended outcome.

Cerró la puerta, de modo que nadie entró. Cerró la puerta de modo que nadie entrara.

She closed the door, so nobody entered. She closed the door so that nobody would enter.Indicative reports what happened; subjunctive presents the desired result of closing it.

Choose a result connector and its register

Así que is common and conversational; por lo tanto and por consiguiente suit organized argument and take indicative clauses; de ahí que introduces a derived consequence with the subjunctive.

Faltan datos; por lo tanto, la conclusión es provisional. Faltan datos, de ahí que la conclusión sea provisional.

Data are missing; therefore, the conclusion is provisional. Data are missing, hence the conclusion is provisional.The connector changes the syntax: es after por lo tanto, but sea after de ahí que.

Common mistakes

Había tan niebla que cancelaron los vuelos.

Había tanta niebla que cancelaron los vuelos.

Use agreeing tanto with a noun; tan modifies an adjective or adverb.

Organizó los datos de manera que todos los entendieron. (purpose intended)

Organizó los datos de manera que todos los entendieran.

An intended result with a different subject is presented with subjunctive.

Faltan datos, de ahí que la conclusión es provisional.

Faltan datos, de ahí que la conclusión sea provisional.

De ahí que conventionally selects the subjunctive.

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Result clauses FAQ

What does result clauses cover?

What is the first rule to remember?

Use tan plus an adjective or adverb, or tanto and its agreeing forms with nouns, followed by que and the indicative for the factual result.

What is another important B2 pattern?

Use de modo que or de manera que with the indicative for an actual consequence. Use the subjunctive when the phrase means in such a way that and presents an intended outcome.

How can I practise Spanish result clauses?

Complete the focused round, review each correction, and repeat the lesson when its skills become due again.

Continue learning

Aunque with indicative or subjunctiveChoose indicative for an asserted concession and subjunctive for hypothetical, pending, or deliberately backgrounded information.Advanced concession clausesBuild nuanced concessions with por más que, aun cuando, incluso si, si bien, pese a que, and a pesar de que.Cause clauses and speaker commitmentPresent causes as asserted explanations, frame them as shared information, or reject one explanation while supplying another.Basic cause, purpose, and resultReview simple result connectors before comparing actual and intended outcomes.Spanish result connectorsReview por eso and así que in connected B1 writing.Para que with subjunctiveCompare explicit purpose with intended-result clauses.