La meva germana toca en una banda, però també vol veure la funció de teatre.

In Catalan, possessives are very often used together with the definite article, so la meva germana literally looks like the my sister to an English speaker, but it simply means my sister.

This is normal with family members and many everyday nouns:

• el meu germà = my brother
• la meva mare = my mother
• els meus amics = my friends

In some contexts, especially with close family terms in the singular, you may sometimes hear forms without the article, but for learners, using the article is the safest and most standard pattern.

Here, toca means plays, as in playing a musical instrument.

The verb tocar can mean different things depending on context:

• tocar una guitarra / el piano = to play a guitar / the piano
• tocar alguna cosa = to touch something
• em toca a mi = it’s my turn

In this sentence, because we have en una banda (in a band), the meaning is clearly musical: my sister plays in a band.

En una banda means in a band. The preposition en is used here to show membership or participation in a group.

So:

• tocar en una banda = to play in a band
• cantar en un cor = to sing in a choir

An English speaker might expect something very literal, but this is just the normal Catalan way to express it.

Often, yes. In this sentence, una banda means a musical group, so a band is the right translation.

But banda can also have other meanings depending on context, such as:

• side
• strip
• group/gang

Here, because of toca and the musical context, it clearly means a musical band.

Però means but, and també means also/too.

Together, però també gives the idea of but she also.... It shows contrast plus addition:

• one thing is true: she plays in a band
• another thing is also true: she wants to see the theatre performance

So the sentence is contrasting two facts, but not in a strong negative way. It is more like: She plays in a band, but she also wants to watch the play.

Vol is the third-person singular of voler, meaning to want.

Catalan, like English, often uses a conjugated verb followed by an infinitive:

• vol veure = wants to see
• vol anar = wants to go
• vol tocar = wants to play

So:

• ella vol veure = she wants to see

You do not need an extra word like English to before see. The infinitive veure comes directly after vol.

Catalan often uses veure for both to see and, in many contexts, to watch.

So:

• veure una pel·lícula = to watch a film
• veure una funció = to see/watch a performance
• veure els amics = to see friends

The exact English translation depends on context. In this sentence, veure la funció de teatre could be translated as see the play or watch the theatre performance.

It means the theatre performance or the play performance.

A few related words can be confusing:

• funció = performance/show
• obra de teatre = play (the dramatic work itself)
• teatre = theatre, both the art form and sometimes the building

So la funció de teatre focuses on the actual performance being shown, not just theatre in general.

De teatre means of theatre or more naturally theatrical / theatre-related.

It tells you what kind of funció it is:

• funció de teatre = theatre performance
• funció de dansa = dance performance

This is a very common Catalan structure: noun + de + type/category.

Yes, but the meaning shifts slightly.

• obra de teatre usually means a play as a work of drama
• funció de teatre emphasizes a performance of that play

So if someone wants to attend a performance, funció de teatre is very natural. If you are talking about the dramatic piece itself, obra de teatre may be better.

Because però introduces a contrast, much like but in English. In standard writing, it is normal to put a comma before it when it joins two clauses:

• La meva germana toca en una banda, però també vol veure la funció de teatre.

This helps separate the two ideas clearly.

Yes, també is somewhat flexible, although some positions sound more natural than others.

For example:

• ...però també vol veure la funció de teatre.
• ...però vol també veure la funció de teatre.

The version in your sentence is the most natural and common for learners to use. Putting també right after però clearly gives the sense of but she also wants...

Because the subject is already given at the start: La meva germana.

Catalan often leaves out subject pronouns when they are clear from context. So instead of saying:

• La meva germana... però ella també vol...

it simply says:

• La meva germana... però també vol...

The verb form vol is third-person singular, and the understood subject is still la meva germana.

A natural translation would be:

My sister plays in a band, but she also wants to see the play.

Depending on context, you could also say:

• My sister plays in a band, but she also wants to see the theatre performance.
• My sister is in a band, but she also wants to watch the play.

All of those match the Catalan sentence well.