Spanish
Contributed by Tatiana Repnina (ResearchGate profile). The data were gathered in 2021.
How to cite
Repnina, Tatiana. 2022. Nominal causal constructions in Spanish. In: Say, Sergey, Natalia Logvinova, Elizaveta Zabelina, and Natalia Zaika (eds.). 2022–. NoCaCoDa: Typological database of nominal causal constructions. St. Petersburg: Institute for Linguistic Studies, RAS. (Data first published on December 1, 2022; last revised on December 1, 2022). (Available online at https://nocacoda.info. Accessed on .)
1
Status: main; causal marker: de
| el | pañuelo | se | moj-ó | de | lágrima-s |
| def . sg . m | handkerchief( m ). sg | refl | get_wet- aor .3 sg | from | tear.( f )- pl |
| The handkerchief got wet from tears. | |||||
2
Status: main; causal marker: por
| la | rama | se | romp-ió | por | el | peso |
| def . sg . f | branch( f )- sg | refl | break- aor .3 sg | because_of | def . sg . m | weight( m ). sg |
| The branch broke because of the weight. | ||||||
3
Status: main; causal marker: por
| la | mujer | está | tos-iendo | por | el | humo |
| def . sg . f | woman( f ). sg | be. prs .3 sg | cough- ger | because_of | def . sg . m | smoke( m ). sg |
| The woman coughes because of the smoke. | ||||||
4
Status: main; causal marker: por
| no | pod-emos | ver | la | orilla | por | la | oscuridad |
| neg | can- prs .1 pl | see. inf | def . sg . f | coast( f ). sg | because_of | def . sg . f | darkness( f ). sg |
| We cannot see the coast because of the fog. | |||||||
5
Status: main; causal marker: por
| el | hombre | fue | arrest-ado | por | error |
| def . sg . m | man( m ). sg | be. aor .3 sg | detain- part . past | because_of | mistake( f ). sg |
| The man was arrested by mistake. | |||||
6
Status: main; causal marker: debido a
| el | árbol | cay-ó | debido | al | viento |
| def . sg . m | tree( m ). sg | fall- aor .3 sg | due_to | def . sg . m | wind( m ). sg |
| The tree fell because of the wind. | |||||
7
Status: main; causal marker: por
| el | hombre | mur-ió | por | un | choque | eléctrico |
| def . sg . m | man( m ). sg | die- aor .3 sg | because_of | indf . sg . m | shock( m ). sg | electric. sg . m |
| The man died from electric shock. | ||||||
8
Status: main; causal marker: por
| la | mujer | despert-ó | por | el | ruido |
| def . sg . f | woman( f ). sg | get_up- aor .3 sg | because_of | def . sg . m | noise( m ). sg |
| The woman woke up from the noise. | |||||
9
Status: main; causal marker: por
| el | hombre | tiene | dolor | de | cabeza | por | la | cerveza |
| def . sg . m | man( m ). sg | have. prs .3 sg | pain( m ). sg | from | head( m ). sg | because_of | def . sg . f | beer( f )- sg |
| The man has a headache because of the beer. | ||||||||
10
Status: main; causal marker: de
| la | mujer | se | rió | del | cachorro |
| def . sg . f | woman( f )- sg | refl | laugh- aor .3 sg | from. def . sg . m | puppy( m ). sg |
| The woman was laughing because of the puppy. | |||||
11
Status: main; causal marker: por
| el | hombre | mur-ió | por | un | pez | venenoso |
| def . sg . m | man( m ). sg | die- aor .3 sg | because_of | indf . sg . m | fish( m ). sg | poisonous. sg . m |
| The man died poisoned by a venomous fish. | ||||||
12
Status: main; causal marker: con
| la | chica | es | satisfech-a | con | su | calificación |
| def . sg . f | girl( f ). sg | be. prs .3 sg | satisfied- sg . f | with | poss .3 sg | note( f )- sg |
| The girl is satisfied with her grade. | ||||||
13
Status: main; causal marker: por
| la | esposa | est-aba | enojad-a | por | las | palabra-s | de | su | marido |
| def . sg . f | wife( f ). sg | be- ipfv .3 sg | angry. sg . f | because_of | def . pl . f | word( f )- pl | from | poss .3 sg | husband( m ). sg |
| The wife was angry because of her husband’s words. | |||||||||
14
Status: main; causal marker: con
| el | niño | est-aba | encantad-o | con | est-a | idea |
| def . sg . m | boy( m ). sg | be- ipfv .3 sg | enthusiastic- part . past . sg . m | with | this- sg . f | idea( f )- sg |
| The boy was thrilled by this suggestion. | ||||||
15
Status: main; causal marker: por
| el | hombre | est-aba | debilit-ado | por | hambre |
| def . sg . m | man( m ). sg | be- ipfv .3 sg | weaken- aor .3 sg | because_of | hunger( f ). sg |
| The man was weakened by hunger. | |||||
16
Status: main; causal marker: de
| el | hombre | mur-ió | de | hambre |
| def . sg . m | man( m ). sg | die- aor .3 sg | from | hunger( f )- sg |
| The man died of starvation. | ||||
17
Status: main; causal marker: de
| el | hombre | grit-aba | de | dolor |
| def . sg . m | man( m ). sg | cry- ipfv .3 sg | from | pain( m ). sg |
| The man was screaming from the pain. | ||||
18
Status: main; causal marker: por
| la | mujer | está | tembl-ando | por | el | frío |
| def . sg . f | woman( f )- sg | be. prs .3 sg | tremble- ger | because_of | def . sg . m | cold( m ). sg |
| The woman shivers from the cold. | ||||||
19
Status: main; causal marker: de
| el | niño | comenz-ó | a | llor-ar | de | miedo |
| def . sg . m | child( m ). sg | begin- aor .3 sg | to | cry- inf | from | fear( m ). sg |
| The child began to cry from fear. | ||||||
20
Status: main; causal marker: de
| el | niño | se | rió | de | alegría |
| def . sg . m | child( m ). sg | refl | laugh. aor .3 sg | from | happiness( f )- sg |
| The child was laughing of joy. | |||||
21
Status: main; causal marker: por
| el | niño | se | escond-ió | en | el | granero | por | miedo |
| def . sg . m | child( m ). sg | refl | hide- aor .3 sg | in | def . sg . m | granary( m ). sg | because_of | fear( f ). sg |
| The child hid in the barn because of fear. | ||||||||
22
Status: main; causal marker: por
| el | hombre | guard-ó | silencio | por | pudor |
| def . sg . m | man( m ). sg | remain_silent. aor .3 sg | silence( m ). sg | because_of | modesty( m )- sg |
| The man was silent because of modesty. | |||||
23
Status: main; causal marker: con
| la | mujer | agarr-ó | la | mano | de | su | hermano | con | miedo |
| def . sg . f | woman( f )- sg | hold. aor .3 sg | def . sg . f | hand( f ). sg | from | poss .3 sg | brother( m ). sg | with | fear( f ). sg |
| The woman held her brother’s arm with fear. | |||||||||
24
Status: main; causal marker: de
| la | mujer | est-á | cansad-a | del | trabajo |
| def . sg . f | woman( f )- sg | be. prs .3 sg | tired- sg . f | from. def . sg . m | work( m )- sg |
| The woman is tired from work. | |||||
25
Status: main; causal marker: debido a
| la | mujer | no | puede | concili-ar | el | sueño | debido | a | los mosquito-s |
| def . sg . f | woman( f )- sg | neg | be_able. prs .3 sg | conciliate- inf | def . sg . m | sleep( m ). sg | due_to | def . pl . m | mosquito( m )- pl |
| The woman can’t fall asleep because of the mosquitoes. | |||||||||
26
Status: main; causal marker: por
| el | agua | se | ve | brillante | por | la | luna |
| def . sg . f | water( f )- sg | refl | see- prs .3 sg | bright- sg . f | because_of | def . sg . f | moon( f )- sg |
| The water looks bright because of the moon. | |||||||
27
Status: main; causal marker: gracias a
| gracias | a | su | perro, | el | hombre | tuvo | una | caza | éxitos-a |
| thanks | to | poss .3 sg | dog( m ). sg | def . sg . m | man( m ). sg | have. aor .3 sg | indf . sg . f | hunting( f ). sg | successful- sg . f |
| Thanks to his dog, the man had a successful hunt. | |||||||||
28
Status: main; causal marker: con
| la | esposa | est-aba | enojad-a | con | su | esposo |
| def . sg . f | wife( f )- sg | be- ipfv .3 sg | angry- sg . f | with | poss .3 sg | husband( m ). sg |
| The wife got angry at her husband. | ||||||
29
Status: main; causal marker: por culpa de
| la | mujer | lleg-ó | tarde | al | trabajo | por | culpa | de | su | marido |
| def . sg . f | woman( f )- sg | arrive- aor .3 sg | late | for. def . sg . m | work( m ). sg | by | fault | of | poss .3 sg | husband( m ). sg |
| The woman was late for work because of her husband. | ||||||||||
30
Status: main; causal marker: a causa de
| la | gente | mur-ió | a | causa | del | terremoto |
| def . sg . f | people( f ). sg | die- aor .3 sg | to | cause | of. def . sg . m | earthquake( m ). sg |
| People died because of the earthquake. | ||||||
31
Status: main; causal marker: por culpa de
| todas | las | desgracia-s | ocurr-en | por | culpa | de | los | humano-s |
| all- pl . f | def . pl . f | misfortune( f )- pl | happen- prs .3 pl | by | fault | of | def . sg . m | human- sg . m |
| All misfortunes happen because of humans. | ||||||||
32
Status: main; causal marker: gracias a
| el | hombre | puede | ver | mejor | ahora | gracias | a | la | operación |
| def . sg . m | man( m ). sg | be_able_to- prs .3 sg | see. inf | better | now | thanks | to | def . sg . f | intervention( f ). sg |
| The man sees better thanks to the operation. | |||||||||
33
Status: main; causal marker: gracias a
| la | mujer | está | viv-a | gracias | a | ese | hombre |
| def . sg . f | woman( f )- sg | be. prs .3 sg | alive- sg . f | thanks | to | that. sg . m | man( m ). sg |
| The woman is alive thanks to that man. | |||||||
34
Status: main; causal marker: por
| el | hombre | se | lo | cont-ó | a | su | esposa | por | estupidez |
| def . sg . m | man( m ). sg | 3 sg . iobj | 3 sg . n . dobj | say- aor .3 sg | to | poss .3 sg | woman( f )- sg | because_of | stupidity( f )- sg |
| The man told his wife about it out of stupidity. | |||||||||
35
Status: main; causal marker: por
| la | mujer | resbal-ó | por | descuido |
| def . sg . f | woman( f )- sg | slip- aor .3 sg | because_of | recklessness( m )- sg |
| The woman slipped because of carelessness. | ||||
36
Status: main; causal marker: gracias a
| el | piloto | pud-o | aterriz-ar | el | avión | gracias | a | su | experiencia |
| def . sg . m | pilot( m ). sg | be_able_to- aor . sg . m | land- inf | def . sg . m | plane( m ). sg | thanks | to | poss .3 sg | experience( f )- sg |
| The pilot was able to land the plane thanks to his solid experience. | |||||||||
37
Status: main; causal marker: por
| el | piloto | no | pud-o | aterriz-ar | el | avión | por | inexperiencia |
| def . sg . m | pilot( m ). sg | neg | be_able_to- aor . sg . m | land- inf | def . sg . m | plane( m ). sg | because_of | inexperience( f )- sg |
| The pilot couldn’t land the plane due to his inexperience. | ||||||||
38
Status: main; causal marker: por
| en | tiempo-s | de | guerra, | la | gente | com-ía | hierba | por | hambre |
| in | time( m )- pl | of | war( f )- sg | def . sg . f | people( f ). sg | eat- ipfv .3 sg | grass( f )- sg | because_of | hunger( f )- sg |
| During the war, people ate grass because of hunger. | |||||||||
39
Status: main; causal marker: por
| la | mujer | entr-ó | por | curiosidad |
| def . sg . f | woman( f )- sg | enter- aor .3 sg | because_of | curiosity( f ). sg |
| The woman entered there out of curiosity. | ||||
40
Status: main; causal marker: por
| el | hombre | mat-ó | a | su | esposa | por | celo-s |
| def . sg . m | man( m ). sg | kill- aor .3 sg | to | poss .3 sg | woman( f )- sg | because_of | jealousy( m )- pl |
| The jealousy made the man kill his wife. | |||||||
41
Status: main; causal marker: por
| el | hombre | se | lo | cont-ó | a | todo-s | por | vanidad |
| def . sg . m | man( m ). sg | 3 pl . iobj | 3 sg . n . dobj | say- aor .3 sg | to | everybody- pl . m | because_of | vanity( f ). sg |
| The man told this to everyone out of vanity. | ||||||||
42
Status: main; causal marker: por
| la | mujer | romp-ió | todos | los | plato-s | por | ira |
| def . sg . f | woman( f )- sg | break- aor .3 sg | all- pl . m | def . pl . m | dish( m )- pl | because_of | anger( f ). sg |
| The woman broke all the dishes out of anger. | |||||||
43
Status: main; causal marker: a causa de
| la | mujer | se | fue | a | dorm-ir | vestid-a | a | causa | del | frío |
| def . sg . f | woman( f )- sg | refl | go- aor .3 sg | to | sleep- inf | dressed- sg . f | to | cause | of. def . sg . m | cold( m ). sg |
| The woman went to sleep dressed because of the cold. | ||||||||||
44
Status: main; causal marker: por
| el | maestr-o | elogi-ó | al | alumno | por | su | traje |
| def . sg . m | professor-( m ). sg | praise- aor .3 sg | to. def . sg . m | student( m ). sg | because_of | poss .3 sg | costume( m ). sg |
| The professor complimented the student on his uniform. | |||||||
45
Status: main; causal marker: por
| el | hombre | mat-ó | a | su | vecino | por | su-s | palabra-s |
| def . sg . m | man( m ). sg | beat- aor .3 sg | to | poss .3 sg | neighbour( m ). sg | because_of | poss .3- pl | word( f )- pl |
| The man beat his neighbor because of his words. | ||||||||
46
Status: main; causal marker: por
| los | niño-s | luch-aron | por | el | balón |
| def . pl . m | child( m )- pl | fight- aor .3 pl | because_of | indf . sg . m | ball( m )- sg |
| The children were fighting over a ball. | |||||
47
Status: main; causal marker: sobre
| el | hombre | discut-ió | con | su | hermano | sobre | la | herencia |
| def . sg . m | man( m ). sg | debate- aor .3 sg | with | poss .3 sg | brother( m ). sg | over | def . sg . f | inheritance( f )- sg |
| The man argued with his brother over the inheritance. | ||||||||
48
Status: main; causal marker: por
| la | mujer | compr-ó | el | libro | por | las | foto-s |
| def . sg . f | woman( f )- sg | buy- aor .3 sg | def . sg . m | book( m ). sg | because_of | def . pl . f | picture( f )- pl |
| The woman bought the book for the drawings. | |||||||
49
Status: main; causal marker: por
| la | mujer | cancel-ó | plan-es | con | su | amig-a | por | su | mal | humor |
| def . sg . f | woman( f )- sg | cancel- aor .3 sg | plan( m )- sg | with | poss .3 sg | friend-( f ). sg | because_of | poss .3 sg | bad. sg . m | mood( m ). sg |
| The woman cancelled the plans with her friend because of her bad mood. | ||||||||||
50
Status: main; causal marker: n.a.
| a | juzg-ar | por | los | charco-s, | anoche | llov-ió |
| to | judge- inf | because_of | def . pl . m | puddle( m )- pl | this_night | rain- aor .3 sg |
| Judging by the puddles, yesterday night it was raining. | ||||||
| Note: This translation is not included in the database because the causing event is expressed as a dependent clause, not a noun phrase. | ||||||
51
Status: main; causal marker: n.a.
| a | juzg-ar | por | las | burbuja-s, | el | agua | está | hirv-iendo |
| to | judge- inf | because_of | def . pl . f | bubble( f )- pl | def . sg . f | water( f )- sg | be. prs .3 sg | boil- ger |
| Judging by the bubbles, the water is boiling. | ||||||||
| Note: This translation is not included in the database because the causing event is expressed as a dependent clause, not a noun phrase. | ||||||||
52
Status: main; causal marker: n.a.
| ¿entr-aras | porque | hace | frío? |
| enter- fut .2 sg | because_of | make. prs .3 sg | cold( m ). sg |
| You will enter inside because it is cold? | |||
| Note: This translation is not included in the database because the causing event is expressed as a dependent clause, not a noun phrase. | |||
53
Status: main; causal marker: n.a.
| ¿dónde | está | mi | saco | porque | hace | frío? |
| where | be. prs .3 sg | 1 sg . poss . sg . m | jumper( m ). sg | because_of | make. prs .3 sg | cold( m ). sg ? |
| Where is my sweater because it is cold? | ||||||
| Note: This translation is not included in the database because the causing event is expressed as a dependent clause, not a noun phrase. | ||||||
54
Status: main; causal marker: segun
| según | la | ley | matemátic-a, | este | número | no | puede | ser | menor | que | uno |
| according_to | def . sg . f | law( f )- sg | mathematical- sg . f | this. sg . m | number( m ). sg | neg | be_able. prs .3 sg | be. inf | less | from | one( m ). sg |
| According to the mathematical law, this number cannot be less than one. | |||||||||||