Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Cuando encuentres el control remoto, pásamelo y yo te lo programo. - When you find the remote control, hand it to me and I’ll program it for you.

Because cuando introduces a future or hypothetical event (“when you find…”). In Spanish, temporal clauses referring to actions that haven’t happened yet require the subjunctive. So you say cuando encuentres (“when you find”) rather than cuando encuentras, which would imply a habitual action or a past/ongoing fact.

What type of command is pásamelo, and how is it formed?

Pásamelo is an affirmative tú command. For most regular –ar verbs, the affirmative tú form uses the third-person singular of the present indicative: pasar → pasa. Then you attach the object pronouns: pasa + me + lo. Because pronoun attachment can shift the stress, you mark the accent: pásamelo.

How do the object pronouns me and lo combine in pásamelo, and why is the order me + lo?

Spanish pronouns follow the order: reflexive > indirect object > direct object. Here me is an indirect object pronoun (“to me”), and lo is a direct object pronoun (“it” referring to el control remoto). You never switch the order to lo + me. After forming pasa, you attach me then lo to get pasa + me + lo = pásamelo.

Why does the second clause use an explicit subject pronoun yo in y yo te lo programo, when Spanish usually drops the subject?

Subject pronouns in Spanish are often optional because the verb ending already indicates the subject. Here, yo is added for emphasis or contrast: “and I will program it for you,” highlighting that it’s you who will do the programming (not someone else). It adds clarity and a casual emphasis.

Why is programo in the present indicative rather than the future tense programaré?

Spanish frequently uses the present indicative to talk about actions planned for the near future. Saying te lo programo (“I program it for you” / “I’ll program it for you”) sounds more natural in casual conversation than te lo programaré, which may sound overly formal or distant.

Could we move the order to Pásamelo cuando encuentres el control remoto? Is that correct, and does it change the emphasis?

Yes, that reordering is perfectly correct. In Spanish, you can start with the main command (Pásamelo) or the subordinate clause (Cuando encuentres…) without changing the meaning. Placing the command first gives it a slightly stronger, more immediate feel; placing the time clause first emphasizes the condition.

Why does pásamelo carry a written accent on the first “a”?

When you attach two pronouns to a command, the word can gain extra syllables, shifting the natural stress. To show the stress remains on the first syllable (PA-sa-me-lo), Spanish orthography requires an accent: pásamelo. Without the accent, you might misplace the stress.

Is control remoto the only term for a TV remote in Latin America, or are there other regional words?

While control remoto is widely understood across Latin America, many people also say mando a distancia, borrowed from Spain. Informally, you might hear mando, control, or even local slang in some countries. It varies by region, but control remoto will always be understood.