Voy a planchar mi camisa antes de salir, porque está muy arrugada.

I am going to iron my shirt before going out, because it is very wrinkled.

Breakdown of Voy a planchar mi camisa antes de salir, porque está muy arrugada.

• yo: I
• mi: my
• muy: very
• estar: to be
• porque: because
• a: to
• ir: to go
• antes de: before
• salir: to go out
• ,: comma
• la camisa: the shirt
• planchar: to iron
• arrugado: wrinkled

Questions & Answers about Voy a planchar mi camisa antes de salir, porque está muy arrugada.

Why is the construction "voy a planchar" used instead of simply using a future conjugation like "plancharé"?

The phrase "voy a planchar" uses the "ir a + infinitive" structure, which is very common in Spanish to express a planned or near-future action—in this case, "I am going to iron." While "plancharé" is also a future form, "voy a planchar" tends to sound more immediate and conversational, emphasizing the intention or plan to perform the action.

How does the phrase "antes de salir" function in the sentence?

"Antes de salir" functions as an adverbial phrase indicating time; it tells us when the action takes place (“before leaving”). In Spanish, expressions like "antes de" are always followed by an infinitive, and here it clearly marks that the ironing is done prior to the action of leaving.

Why is there a comma before "porque" in this sentence, and is it always necessary?

The comma before "porque" separates the main clause from the explanatory (causal) clause, adding a pause for clarity. Although Spanish punctuation rules sometimes do not require a comma before "porque" when it introduces a reason, writers often include it to enhance readability or to emphasize that what follows is the explanation for the preceding statement. Its use can depend on stylistic preference and the complexity of the sentence.

What does the adjective "arrugada" mean, and how does it agree with "camisa"?

"Arrugada" means "wrinkled" and is used here to describe the condition of the shirt ("camisa"). In Spanish, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Since "camisa" is a feminine noun, the adjective takes the feminine form "arrugada."

Could this sentence be rephrased using another future construction, and what differences would that entail?

Yes, the sentence could be rephrased using the simple future conjugation. For example, one might say "Plancharé mi camisa antes de salir, porque está muy arrugada." However, using the simple future ("plancharé") can sometimes sound more formal or less immediate than the "ir a" construction. The "ir a + infinitive" form is preferred in everyday conversation to express immediate plans or intentions, while the simple future often conveys a slightly more distant intention or a more formal tone.