Breakdown of Cuando la oruga esté en el capullo, va a convertirse en una mariposa.
una
a, an (feminine)
en
in / on / at
estar
to be (location/state)
ir
to go
a
to
la
the (feminine)
cuando
when (statement)
la oruga
caterpillar
el capullo
cocoon
convertirse en
to become
la mariposa
butterfly
Questions & Answers about Cuando la oruga esté en el capullo, va a convertirse en una mariposa.
Why do we use the subjunctive esté after cuando here?
We use the subjunctive in time clauses with words like cuando when they refer to a future or anticipated event. Because the caterpillar isn't in the cocoon yet, we use the subjunctive esté. If we were talking about a habitual action (like 'Whenever the caterpillar is in the cocoon...'), we would use the indicative está.
Why is it esté (from estar) instead of sea (from ser)?
Even though we are using the subjunctive mood, the basic rules for ser and estar still apply. We use estar to talk about where someone or something is physically located, like the caterpillar being inside the cocoon (en el capullo).
Why do we use the preposition en after convertirse?
In Spanish, the verb convertirse (to become or to turn into) requires the preposition en before the noun that someone or something is changing into. You can think of it literally as 'to convert into'.
Could I put the pronoun se somewhere else instead of attaching it to convertirse?
Yes! When you have a conjugated verb followed by an infinitive (like va a convertir), you can attach the reflexive pronoun to the end of the infinitive, as done here (va a convertirse). Alternatively, you can place it before the conjugated verb: se va a convertir. Both are perfectly correct and mean exactly the same thing.
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