Conforme o conforme a

Question

The test answer is “conforme” but it should be “conforme a” según la lección. ?

Silvia Piriz · Accepted Answer

Hola Stan R.
Good observation!
Both “conforme” and “conforme a” exist, but they are used in different structures.
When conforme introduces a subordinate clause (a verb), it does not use “a”. In this case it works like “as” / “according to the way that”.
Example:
Creamos unos tejidos artesanales muy bonitos, conforme nos enseñaron en el curso.(We created some very pretty artisan fabrics, as we were taught in the workshop.)
However, when conforme is followed by a noun or pronoun, we use “conforme a”:

Conforme a las reglas…

Conforme a la ley…

So in the quiz sentence “conforme” is correct because it introduces a clause with a verb (nos enseñaron).
Hope this clarifies it!
Silvia