Breakdown of Quan tot estigui a punt, seurem a taula i tastarem el que ha preparat la meva germana.
estar
to be
la taula
the table
a
at
i
and
Questions & Answers about Quan tot estigui a punt, seurem a taula i tastarem el que ha preparat la meva germana.
Why is it estigui and not està after quan?
Because in Catalan, when quan refers to a future situation, it often triggers the subjunctive.
So:
- Quan tot està a punt = When everything is ready / When everything is already ready
- Quan tot estigui a punt = When everything is ready in the sense of when it becomes ready / once it is ready in the future
In this sentence, the whole event is still in the future:
- first, everything will be ready
- then, we will sit down
- then, we will taste the food
That is why Catalan uses estigui rather than the present indicative està.
What exactly does a punt mean?
A punt means ready.
So:
- tot estigui a punt = everything is ready
It is a very common expression in Catalan. Literally, it is something like at the point, but you should learn it as a fixed phrase meaning ready.
Examples:
- El sopar és a punt. = Dinner is ready.
- Ja estic a punt. = I’m ready now.
Why does Catalan use estar in estigui a punt?