Growing and Changing
When discussing stages of child development or situations that evolve progressively, you can use the conjunctions conforme or según. Both can be translated as "as", "in step with", or "depending on how".
If the unfolding situation is a routine, a general fact, or happening right now, follow these words with a verb in the indicative.
| The boy is increasingly happy as he adapts to daycare. | El niño está cada vez más contento conforme se adapta a la guardería. |
| How difficult it is to take away the pacifier as they grow! | ¡Lo difícil que es quitar el chupete según crecen! |
Just like in English, you can place the conforme or según clause at the beginning or the end of the sentence.
| As they learn to crawl, girls smile more. | Conforme aprenden a gatear, las niñas sonríen más. |
Anticipating the Future
Children change quickly! When you are talking about a future stage of development or an evolving situation that hasn't happened yet, you must follow conforme or según with the subjunctive.
| We are going to change the baby food as he grows. | Vamos a cambiar la papilla según crezca. |
| As the baby crawls, he is going to be increasingly independent. | Conforme el bebé gatee, va a ser cada vez más independiente. |
This structure is extremely useful when planning how you will adapt to a baby's evolving needs, such as giving them more independence (la autonomía).
| As we stimulate her autonomy, the girl is going to learn to walk. | Conforme estimulemos su autonomía, la niña va a aprender a caminar. |
| We are going to take away the pacifier depending on how she responds. | Vamos a quitar el chupete según responda. |
