Breakdown of Se queres usar os abre-latas, tens de lavá-los.
querer
to want
usar
to use / to wear
ter de
to have to
o
him/it (m)
Questions & Answers about Se queres usar os abre-latas, tens de lavá-los.
Why doesn't the word abre-latas change to show that it's plural?
Why does lavar turn into lavá-los at the end of the sentence?
This is the infinitive verb lavar (to wash) combined with the pronoun os (them, referring back to the can openers). When attaching the direct object pronouns o, a, os, or as to a verb ending in -r, we drop the -r and change the pronoun to start with an L (-los). We then add the acute accent (á) to keep the spoken stress on that syllable.
We've learned that se (if) often triggers the future subjunctive. Why does this sentence just use the normal present tense queres?
You use the present indicative (queres) with se when talking about general facts, habits, or immediate realities (like "If you want to use them right now"). You only need the future subjunctive (quiseres) for future, hypothetical possibilities (like "If you ever want to use them in the future").