Breakdown of Quan la planta comença a créixer, cada fulla nova sembla més forta.
a
to
quan
when
més
more
començar
to start
Questions & Answers about Quan la planta comença a créixer, cada fulla nova sembla més forta.
What does quan mean here?
Quan means when. It introduces a time clause: Quan la planta comença a créixer = When the plant starts to grow.
In this sentence, it sets the scene for what happens next.
Why is it comença a créixer and not just comença créixer?
After començar (to begin / to start), Catalan normally uses a + infinitive.
So:
començar a créixer = to start growing
This is the usual pattern:
- començar a parlar = to start speaking
- començar a ploure = to start raining
So the a is an important part of the structure.
What form is comença?
Comença is the present tense, third-person singular form of començar.
It matches la planta because la planta is singular.
So:
- la planta comença = the plant begins / is beginning
Why is it cada fulla nova without an article?