Cuando veo a mi familia, me pongo feliz.

When I see my family, I become happy.

Breakdown of Cuando veo a mi familia, me pongo feliz.

• yo: I
• mi: my
• la familia: the family
• feliz: happy
• cuando: when
• a: to
• ver: to see
• ,: comma
• ponerse: to become

Questions & Answers about Cuando veo a mi familia, me pongo feliz.

What does “me pongo feliz” mean, and why is the reflexive verb “ponerse” used instead of a verb like “estar” or “sentirse”?

“Me pongo feliz” translates to “I become happy.” The reflexive verb ponerse is used here to indicate a change or transition into a state. It emphasizes that the speaker’s happiness is not a permanent condition but a reaction triggered by seeing their family. Using estar would simply state a current condition, and sentirse would focus more on how one feels; ponerse specifically highlights the process of “becoming” happy.

Why is there an “a” before “mi familia”?

The preposition a is used before direct objects that are people in Spanish—a rule known as the “personal a.” Since mi familia refers to a group of people, the a must be included to mark them as the direct object of the verb ver (to see).

Why isn’t the subject pronoun “yo” explicitly mentioned in the sentence?

In Spanish, subject pronouns are often omitted because the verb conjugation clearly indicates the subject. The verb veo is conjugated in the first person singular, so it is understood that the subject is “I” (yo) without needing to state it explicitly.

What role does the comma play in this sentence?

The comma separates the dependent temporal clause “Cuando veo a mi familia” (“When I see my family”) from the main clause “me pongo feliz” (“I become happy”). This separation clarifies that the first part sets the context (the condition or time) for the action described in the main clause.

Can the sentence be rearranged without changing its meaning, and if so, how?

Yes, Spanish allows flexible word order. The sentence can also be written as “Me pongo feliz cuando veo a mi familia.” Both versions convey the same idea—the speaker becomes happy when they see their family. The choice of order may depend on stylistic preference or the emphasis the speaker wishes to give.