El meu germà necessita l'ordinador perquè vol escriure un correu a la professora.

In standard Catalan, possessives are usually used with the definite article, so el meu germà literally looks like the my brother to an English speaker, but it simply means my brother.

This is very common:

• el meu pare = my father
• la meva mare = my mother
• els meus amics = my friends

English does not use the before possessives, but Catalan usually does.

The apostrophe shows that the article el has been shortened before a vowel sound.

• el + ordinador → l'ordinador

This is similar to how Catalan avoids awkward vowel clashes. You will often see this with singular definite articles:

• l'amic = the friend
• l'escola = the school
• l'home = the man

So l'ordinador simply means the computer.

Necessita is the third person singular present form of necessitar (to need).

So:

• jo necessito = I need
• tu necessites = you need
• ell / ella necessita = he / she needs

In the sentence, the subject is el meu germà, so the verb must be third person singular:

• El meu germà necessita... = My brother needs...

Perquè means because.

This is important because Catalan distinguishes several similar-looking forms:

• perquè = because
• per què = why / for what
• per a què = what for / in order that in some contexts

In your sentence:

• necessita l'ordinador perquè vol escriure...
• he needs the computer because he wants to write...

So here perquè introduces the reason.

In Catalan, after verbs like voler (to want), you normally use the infinitive directly, without an extra word corresponding to English to.

So:

• vol escriure = wants to write
• vull menjar = I want to eat
• volen sortir = they want to go out

English uses to before the infinitive, but Catalan does not in this structure.

Vol is the third person singular present of voler (to want).

Examples:

• jo vull = I want
• tu vols = you want
• ell / ella vol = he / she wants

So:

• perquè vol escriure = because he wants to write

The subject is still el meu germà, so vol means he wants.

In modern Catalan, un correu often means an email, especially in everyday context.

So:

• escriure un correu usually means to write an email

If you want to be extra explicit, people may also say:

• un correu electrònic = an email

Depending on context, correu can also relate more generally to mail/post, but in this sentence write an email is the most natural interpretation.

Here a la professora means to the teacher / professor.

The preposition a is used to mark the recipient:

• escriure un correu a algú = to write an email to someone

And la professora is the female teacher/professor:

• a + la professora → a la professora

So the structure is:

• escriure = to write
• un correu = an email
• a la professora = to the teacher

Because it refers to a female teacher or professor.

Catalan nouns often show gender:

• professor = male teacher/professor
• professora = female teacher/professor

The article also changes:

• el professor
• la professora

So a la professora tells you the recipient is a woman.

Yes. The sentence follows a very normal Catalan order:

• El meu germà = subject
• necessita = verb
• l'ordinador = direct object
• perquè vol escriure un correu a la professora = reason clause

So it is structured like this:

My brother + needs + the computer + because + he wants to write an email to the teacher

This is very natural and straightforward Catalan word order.

Yes. That is exactly what happens here.

Catalan often omits subject pronouns when the verb ending already makes the subject clear. In the second clause, there is no written ell (he), but it is understood from vol.

So:

• perquè vol escriure... = because he wants to write...

You could say perquè ell vol escriure..., but that would usually add emphasis. The version without ell is more neutral and more natural here.