Breakdown of Ponemos la música tan pronto como la jefa dé el aviso.
poner
to put / to set (the table) / to make (an excuse) / to give, to impose (a fine, a penalty)
la jefa
the boss (f)
la música
the music
dar
to give
tan pronto como
as soon as (three words)
el aviso
the warning / announcement, notice
Questions & Answers about Ponemos la música tan pronto como la jefa dé el aviso.
Why is dé in the subjunctive instead of the normal present tense da?
The phrase tan pronto como (as soon as) triggers the subjunctive when we talk about a future event. Because the boss hasn't given the signal yet, it is an anticipated action, so we must use the present subjunctive dé.
Why does the word dé have an accent mark?
The accent mark is used to distinguish the verb dé (the present subjunctive form of dar, meaning to give) from the preposition de (meaning of or from). They sound exactly the same, so the written accent prevents confusion.
If this is a future event, why does the sentence start with the present tense ponemos?
In Spanish, the present tense is often used to talk about actions in the immediate future or things that are entirely certain. Using ponemos makes the plan sound immediate and decided, similar to saying we are putting on the music in English. You could also use the future tense pondremos.
What does the phrase dar el aviso mean in this context?
While aviso often translates to warning or notice, the phrase dar el aviso here means to give the signal or to cue someone. It is a very natural Spanish expression for letting people know it is time to start an action.
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