És important que fem silenci quan la mare descansa.

Because és important que... normally triggers the subjunctive in Catalan.

So in this sentence:

• És important = It is important
• que fem silenci = that we keep quiet / that we are quiet

The verb fer is in the present subjunctive here because the sentence expresses a judgment, necessity, or recommendation rather than a simple fact.

A very common pattern is:

• És important que...
• És necessari que...
• És millor que...

All of these are usually followed by the subjunctive.

That is a great question, because with nosaltres, the verb form can be identical in the present indicative and present subjunctive.

For fer:

• Present indicative: faig, fas, fa, fem, feu, fan
• Present subjunctive: faci, facis, faci, fem, feu, facin

So fem can be either indicative or subjunctive. You know it is subjunctive here because of the structure És important que..., which requires it.

In other words, the grammar of the whole sentence tells you the mood, not just the spelling of that one form.

Literally, it looks like to make silence, but in natural English it means:

• to be quiet
• to keep quiet
• to stay quiet

This is a normal Catalan expression. Similar common expressions are:

• fer soroll = to make noise
• fer cua = to stand in line
• fer por = to cause fear / to be scary

So fem silenci is an idiomatic way to say we keep quiet.

Because fer silenci is a fixed expression. In Catalan, some nouns appear without an article in set phrases, especially after verbs like fer.

So:

• fer silenci = to keep quiet
• not normally fer el silenci in this context

Using el here would sound unnatural for the meaning intended.

In Catalan, family members are often used with the definite article:

• la mare = mother / mom
• el pare = father / dad
• l’avi = grandfather

So quan la mare descansa is completely normal.

This is different from English, where we usually say Mom or my mother without an article. Catalan often prefers the article in ordinary statements.

However, when directly addressing someone, the article is usually not used:

• Mare, escolta! = Mom, listen!

Because quan la mare descansa is treated here as a real or habitual situation: when the mother is resting, we should be quiet.

So:

• fem is subjunctive because it depends on És important que...
• descansa is indicative because it describes the situation in which that rule applies

In other words, the sentence means something like:

• It’s important that we keep quiet whenever/when Mom is resting.

The resting is presented as an actual event or routine situation, not as something wished for or doubted.

It can feel like either, depending on context.

In this sentence, quan most naturally means:

• when
• or more broadly whenever

So the idea is:

• It’s important that we keep quiet when/whenever Mom is resting.

If this is a general rule in the house, English might naturally use whenever, even though Catalan simply says quan.

Here que introduces a subordinate clause.

The structure is:

• És important = main clause
• que fem silenci quan la mare descansa = subordinate clause

So que is equivalent to English that in:

• It is important that we keep quiet...

In English, that is sometimes omitted. In Catalan, que is normally required in this kind of sentence.

By itself, mare can correspond to either mother or mom, depending on tone and context.

• In a neutral grammar explanation, it is often translated as mother
• In a natural everyday translation, mom may sound better

So this sentence could be understood as either:

• It’s important that we keep quiet when mother is resting
• It’s important that we keep quiet when mom is resting

The Catalan sentence itself is neutral and natural.

The accent marks that és is the verb is from ser.

This helps distinguish it from es, which is a pronoun:

• és = is
• es = himself / herself / itself / themselves in certain structures

So the accent is not optional here; it changes the word.

Yes. Catalan allows some flexibility.

For example, you could also say:

• Quan la mare descansa, és important que fem silenci.

This has the same basic meaning. The difference is mostly one of emphasis:

• És important que fem silenci quan la mare descansa puts the focus first on it’s important
• Quan la mare descansa, és important que fem silenci starts by setting the time or situation

Both are natural.

Yes, in many contexts you could say:

• És important que callem quan la mare descansa.

That means It’s important that we stay quiet / that we be silent when Mom is resting.

But there is a small nuance:

• fer silenci often sounds like keep quiet / make no noise
• callar can sound more directly like be silent / stop talking

So fer silenci is a very natural choice if the idea is general quietness, not just stopping speech.