Breakdown of Quan arriba algú nou, la secretària li demana l'adreça.
quan
when
arribar
to arrive
demanar
to ask for
el secretari
the secretary
Questions & Answers about Quan arriba algú nou, la secretària li demana l'adreça.
What does quan mean here: when or whenever?
It can naturally be understood as either, depending on context.
- Quan arriba algú nou... can mean When someone new arrives...
- In a general or habitual context, it often feels like Whenever someone new arrives...
Because the rest of the sentence is also in the present tense, the whole sentence sounds like a general routine or repeated action.
Why is arriba in the present tense?
Arriba is the 3rd person singular present of arribar = to arrive.
Catalan often uses the present tense for general truths, routines, and repeated situations, just like English does in sentences such as:
- When someone arrives, ...
- If someone calls, ...
So here, arriba does not mean only is arriving right now. It can also describe a usual pattern.
What exactly is algú?
Algú means someone or somebody.
It is an indefinite pronoun, not an adjective. That means it stands on its own rather than modifying a noun.
So:
- algú = someone
- alguna persona = some person / some person or other
In this sentence, algú is the subject of arriba.
Why is it and not ?