Breakdown of Mi padre va a atornillar la balda otra vez porque uno de los tornillos se ha aflojado.
mi
my
ir
to go
a
to
de
of
Questions & Answers about Mi padre va a atornillar la balda otra vez porque uno de los tornillos se ha aflojado.
Why does the sentence use va a atornillar instead of a simple future like atornillará?
Ir a + infinitive is a very common way to talk about the near future or an intended action in everyday Spanish.
- Mi padre va a atornillar... = my father is going to screw/fix...
- Mi padre atornillará... = my father will screw/fix...
In conversation, va a atornillar sounds more natural and immediate. The simple future is possible, but it can sound more formal, more predictive, or less conversational.
What is the function of the a in va a atornillar?
It is part of the fixed future structure ir a + infinitive.
So:
- va = he goes / he is going
- a atornillar = to screw / to fasten with screws
Together, va a atornillar means is going to fasten/screw.
You should learn this as one pattern: ir a + infinitive = to be going to + verb
Why is mi padre included? Could Spanish just say Va a atornillar la balda...?