Spanish grammar
A medida que, conforme; mientras + indicative or subjunctive
Describe things changing together with a medida que / conforme, and set conditions with mientras.
From the scene A medida que nos acercábamos (As we got closer)
In short
A medida que and conforme mean as, for things changing together. Mientras + indicative is while; + subjunctive, as long as.
Your turn
Which one goes with as the sun came up?
Options: conforme salía el sol · a medida que nos acercábamos · mientras el avión se movía
Show answer
as the sun came up → conforme salía el sol
How it works
A medida que and conforme mean "as" when two things change together (the closer we got, the more turbulence).
Good to know
Mientras + indicative means "while" (two facts at the same time); mientras + subjunctive means "as long as" (a condition).
the closer we got a medida que nos acercábamos
Nuria
A medida que nos acercábamos, había más turbulencias.
The closer we got, the more turbulence there was.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), había más turbulencias.
Options: Conforme salía el sol · Mientras el avión se movía · A medida que nos acercábamos
Show answer
Nuria
A medida que nos acercábamos, había más turbulencias.
The closer we got, the more turbulence there was.
as the sun came up conforme salía el sol
Your turn
What goes with conforme salía el sol?
Options: while the plane was shaking (fact) · as the sun came up · the closer we got
Show answer
conforme salía el sol → as the sun came up
while the plane was shaking (fact) mientras el avión se movía
Elena
Y mientras el avión se movía, tú dormías como un bebé.
And while the plane was shaking, you were sleeping like a baby.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Y (blank), tú dormías como un bebé.
Options: a medida que nos acercábamos · conforme salía el sol · mientras el avión se movía
Show answer
Elena
Y mientras el avión se movía, tú dormías como un bebé.
And while the plane was shaking, you were sleeping like a baby.
as long as the pilot doesn't scream mientras el piloto no grite
Javi
Mientras el piloto no grite, yo duermo tranquilo.
As long as the pilot doesn't scream, I sleep soundly.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), yo duermo tranquilo.
Options: Mientras el piloto no grite · A medida que nos acercábamos · Conforme salía el sol
Show answer
Javi
Mientras el piloto no grite, yo duermo tranquilo.
As long as the pilot doesn't scream, I sleep soundly.
as long as there's a coffee mientras haya un café
Elena
¿Nada? Mientras haya un café, yo no pido más.
Nothing? As long as there is coffee, I ask for nothing more.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
¿Nada? (blank), yo no pido más.
Options: Mientras haya un café · A medida que nos acercábamos · Conforme salía el sol
Show answer
Elena
¿Nada? Mientras haya un café, yo no pido más.
Nothing? As long as there is coffee, I ask for nothing more.
Common mistake
Not mueva or moverá here. While (a fact).
Y mientras el avión se movía, tú dormías como un bebé.
And while the plane was shaking, you were sleeping like a baby.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| the closer we got | a medida que nos acercábamos |
|---|---|
| as the sun came up | conforme salía el sol |
| while the plane was shaking (fact) | mientras el avión se movía |
| as long as the pilot doesn't scream | mientras el piloto no grite |
| as long as there's a coffee | mientras haya un café |
More lines from the story
- JaviEs normal. Medellín está entre montañas. Conforme bajas, el avión se mueve.It's normal. Medellín is between mountains. As you come down, the plane shakes.
- JaviTranquila. Mientras no digas que la empanada gallega es mejor que la arepa...Relax. As long as you don't say that Galician empanada is better than arepa...