DIY Results and Purposes
To talk about how your DIY projects actually turned out versus how you intended them to go, use the phrases de modo que and de manera que. Both are interchangeable and generally mean "so" or "so that."
Your choice of mood depends on whether you are describing a factual result or an intended purpose.
Actual Results (Indicative)
To state an action's actual result, use the indicative. Here, the phrases usually translate to "so." Because the result is a known fact, the indicative is required.
| I was using the drill when it broke, so the tile ended up broken. | Usaba el taladro cuando se rompió, de modo que el azulejo se quedó roto. |
| He put the nail in wrong, so he broke the chair again. | Él puso mal el clavo, de manera que volvió a romper la silla. |
| They put the cement over the cable, so the switch never worked. | Pusieron el cemento sobre el cable, de manera que el interruptor nunca funcionó. |
Intended Purposes (Subjunctive)
If you are performing an action with a specific goal in mind, use the subjunctive. Here, the phrases translate to "so that." Because the outcome is a desired intention—and not yet a fact—the subjunctive is required.
| Use the drill slowly so that the nail goes in well. | Usa el taladro despacio de manera que el clavo entre bien. |
| You have to sand the table so that the varnish ends up perfect. | Tienes que lijar la mesa de modo que el barniz quede perfecto. |
| Put the cement down quickly so that the tile doesn't fall. | Pon el cemento rápido de manera que el azulejo no se caiga. |
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