Quiero lavar el plato en cuanto termine de comer.

I want to wash the plate as soon as I finish eating.

Breakdown of Quiero lavar el plato en cuanto termine de comer.

• yo: I
• querer: to want
• comer: to eat
• de: of

Questions & Answers about Quiero lavar el plato en cuanto termine de comer.

Why is it termine (subjunctive) after en cuanto?

Because the action is pending/unknown (it hasn’t happened yet). In time clauses referring to the future, Spanish uses the present subjunctive: en cuanto termine (cuando termine, tan pronto como termine). If the action is habitual or already happened, you use the indicative.

When would I use the indicative instead of the subjunctive here?

• Habitual: En cuanto termino de comer, lavo los platos. (I do this routinely.)
• Past, completed: En cuanto terminé de comer, lavé el plato.

Why can’t I say en cuanto terminaré?

Spanish does not use the future tense in subordinate time clauses. Use the present subjunctive for future reference: en cuanto termine (not terminaré).

Who is the subject of termine?

It’s yo (I). Termine is 1st- or 3rd-person singular present subjunctive; here context makes it 1st person. If it were “you,” it would be en cuanto termines; for “he/she,” en cuanto termine as well (but context or a subject clarifies it).

Why terminar de comer and not just terminar comer?