Planning a prank
Whether you are messing with a coworker's keyboard or tying someone's shoelaces together, a good practical joke (una travesura) requires stealth.
| I hope that this prank goes unnoticed. | Espero que esta travesura pase desapercibida. |
Negative conditions with "sin que"
When you do something without something else happening—like sneaking into a room without being heard—you are describing a negative condition or manner. In Spanish, this is expressed using the phrase sin que.
Because the action that follows sin que is actively prevented or denied, it never actually becomes a reality. For this reason, sin que always triggers the subjunctive mood.
If your main action takes place in the past, the verb after sin que must be conjugated in the past (imperfect) subjunctive.
| I entered the room on tiptoe without my brother hearing me. | Entré al cuarto de puntillas sin que mi hermano me escuchara. |
| She crouched under the desk without the teacher seeing her. | Ella se agachó debajo del escritorio sin que el profesor la viera. |
| I tied his shoelaces without him turning around. | Le até los cordones sin que él se volteara. |
If you are describing a routine prank or an action happening in the present tense, the verb following sin que will take the present subjunctive.
| We swap the keys without the boss realizing. | Intercambiamos las teclas sin que el jefe se dé cuenta. |