Cuando la nube pasa, el cielo se vuelve azul otra vez.

When the cloud passes, the sky turns blue again.

Breakdown of Cuando la nube pasa, el cielo se vuelve azul otra vez.

• cuando: when
• pasar: to pass
• azul: blue
• otra vez: again

Questions & Answers about Cuando la nube pasa, el cielo se vuelve azul otra vez.

Why is pasa in the present indicative instead of the subjunctive pase?

Because this sentence describes a general truth or habitual action (“whenever a cloud passes…”). Spanish uses the present indicative for routine or real events. If you were referring to a specific future occurrence, you’d use the subjunctive with a future tense in the main clause:

• Cuando pase la nube, el cielo se volverá azul otra vez.
(“Once the cloud passes, the sky will turn blue again.”)

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What does se vuelve mean, and why is it reflexive?

Volverse (with se) means “to become” or “to turn into,” emphasizing a change of state. The se marks it as a pronominal verb indicating that the subject (el cielo) experiences this change:

• El cielo se vuelve azul = “The sky becomes blue.”

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Can you use ponerse instead of volverse here?

Yes, ponerse + adjective is also common for sudden or visible changes (especially colors or moods):

• Cuando la nube pasa, el cielo se pone azul otra vez.

Differences:

• Ponerse often implies a more temporary or reversible change.
• Volverse can suggest a more noticeable or fundamental shift.
  In everyday speech either choice is fine for colors.

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Why are there definite articles (la, el) before nube and cielo?