con tal de que
conjunctionCEFR B1
What does “con tal de que” mean in English?
provided that, on condition that
provided that, on condition that (con tal de que + subjunctive — always)
Example sentences
Firmaré el contrato con tal de que incluyan una cláusula sobre el teletrabajo y los días libres.
I'll sign the contract provided they include a clause about remote working and days off.
El jefe aprobó el proyecto con tal de que el presupuesto no superara los límites acordados en enero.
The boss approved the project on condition that the budget did not exceed the limits agreed in January.
Haré cualquier cosa con tal de conseguir ese puesto; llevo años preparándome para ello.
I'll do anything in order to get that position; I've been preparing for it for years.
How to use it
Con tal de que means 'provided that' or 'on condition that' and always triggers subjunctive — it is a conditional conjunction expressing a precondition for the main clause: 'Acepto con tal de que me paguen bien'. The same-subject variant is con tal de + infinitive: 'Acepto con tal de cobrar bien' (same person accepting and receiving payment). Con tal de que is slightly more emphatic than siempre que and implies that the speaker is making a concession or agreement contingent on the stated condition.
Common mistake
Con tal de que always triggers subjunctive — it never takes indicative. The same-subject variant drops the que: con tal de + infinitive. *'Con tal que' (missing de) is a common written error — the de before que is obligatory. Con tal de que is stronger than siempre que: it implies a non-negotiable condition rather than an ongoing general provision.