Learn Hardcore Spanish (Spain): Quiero lavar el plato en cuanto termine de comer. - I want to wash the plate as soon as I finish eating.

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?

The verb needs the preposition de before an infinitive: terminar de + infinitive = finish doing something. Related contrasts:

terminar de comer = finish eating
terminar por + infinitive = end up doing (after various attempts)
terminar + gerundio = end up doing (result): terminó comiendo solo

Can I use acabar de comer instead?

Yes: en cuanto acabe de comer is fine. Just note that acabar de + infinitive in the present means “to have just done”: Acabo de comer = I’ve just eaten.

Is lavar el plato natural in Spain, or is fregar better?

Both are understood, but in Spain people very often say fregar (los platos) when hand‑washing dishes. Examples:

Quiero fregar el plato…
Dish soap/appliance in Spain: lavavajillas (soap or dishwasher). Lavaplatos is more Latin American. Avoid limpiar los platos for washing dishes.

Why singular el plato and not los platos?

Singular is fine if you literally mean the one plate you used. If you mean “the dishes,” use the plural: los platos. Example: Quiero fregar los platos en cuanto termine de comer.

Can I replace el plato with a pronoun?

Yes:

Before the conjugated verb: Lo quiero lavar en cuanto termine de comer.
Attached to the infinitive: Quiero lavarlo en cuanto termine de comer. Use lo for el plato, la for a feminine noun (e.g., la olla → lavarla).

What’s the difference between termine and terminé (with an accent)?

termine (no accent): present subjunctive (or formal command, usted)
terminé (accent): preterite, “I finished.” Example: En cuanto terminé de comer, lavé el plato.

Is the word order with a comma okay if I start with the time clause?

Yes. Both are correct:

Quiero lavar el plato en cuanto termine de comer.
En cuanto termine de comer, quiero lavar el plato. (Use a comma when the time clause comes first.)

Could I use cuando instead of en cuanto?

Yes: cuando = “when” (neutral timing), en cuanto / tan pronto como = “as soon as” (immediacy). All take the subjunctive for future reference: cuando/en cuanto/tan pronto como termine…

What about en cuanto haya terminado de comer?

That’s the perfect subjunctive and it emphasizes the completed state: “as soon as I have finished eating.” In many contexts, en cuanto termine and en cuanto haya terminado are interchangeable; the perfect form can sound a bit more precise about completion.

Could I say Lo lavaré en cuanto termine de comer instead of using Quiero?

Yes. Lo lavaré… states a plan/commitment in the future. Quiero lavar… states desire/intention. Both are fine; choose based on nuance.

Does comer mean “lunch” in Spain?

As a verb, comer is “to eat.” In Spain, la comida (the meal) often refers to lunch (early/mid‑afternoon). Dinner is la cena, and cenar is “to eat dinner.”

Is en cuanto a the same as en cuanto?

No. En cuanto = “as soon as.” En cuanto a = “as for / regarding.” Example: En cuanto a los platos, los fregaré luego.