Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Cuando falten dos días para tu examen, repasa con atención y no te distraigas. - When two days are left until your exam, review carefully and don’t get distracted.

In Spanish, when a temporal clause refers to a future event that hasn’t occurred yet, the subjunctive mood is used to express uncertainty or pending action. Here, “Cuando falten dos días…” implies that the two days remaining are in the future, so “falten” is in the subjunctive rather than the indicative.

What does the verb “faltar” mean in this context?

In this sentence, “faltar” means “to remain” or “to be left.” The phrase “Cuando falten dos días para tu examen” translates roughly as “When there are two days left until your exam.”

Why is “repasa” used for one command and “no te distraigas” for the other? What’s the difference in their forms?

“Repasa” is an affirmative command formed with the regular imperative for the tú form, while “no te distraigas” is a negative command that uses the present subjunctive form. In Spanish, negative commands always require the subjunctive, which is why you see different forms here even though both are issuing orders.

What is the function of the phrase “para tu examen”?

“Para tu examen” serves as a prepositional phrase that specifies the time reference—it indicates that the advice applies in relation to your exam. Essentially, it means “until your exam” or “before your exam,” providing the condition for when the reviewing and focus should occur.

Is the language used in this sentence formal or informal, and how can you tell?

The sentence is informal. This is evident from the use of the tú form (as in “tu examen,” “repasa,” and “no te distraigas”) rather than the formal usted form. It suggests the advice is meant for someone the speaker is on familiar or casual terms with.

What is the overall structure of the sentence?

The sentence begins with a temporal clause (“Cuando falten dos días para tu examen”) that sets the time condition and is followed by two imperative commands (“repasa con atención” and “no te distraigas”). This structure gives you a clear instruction about when to take a specific action and what actions to perform at that time.

When exactly is the advice supposed to be followed according to the sentence?

The advice is meant to be implemented when there are two days remaining before the exam. That is, once the exam is approaching close enough that only two days are left, you should begin reviewing carefully and ensure you remain focused without getting distracted.