Breakdown of Una vez que tengáis las llaves, podéis entrar cuando queráis.
la llave
the key
tener
to have
querer
to want; to love (a person)
poder
to be able to
entrar
to enter
cuando
when (not in questions)
una vez que
once (conjunction)
Questions & Answers about Una vez que tengáis las llaves, podéis entrar cuando queráis.
Why is tengáis in the subjunctive here instead of the indicative?
The phrase una vez que (once) triggers the subjunctive when referring to a future event that hasn't happened yet. Since they don't have the keys yet, we use the subjunctive tengáis. If this were describing a repeated past or habitual action, it would take the indicative.
Why do we also use the subjunctive for queráis after cuando?
Just like with una vez que, the word cuando (when or whenever) requires the subjunctive when talking about an anticipated future action. Because the exact time they will want to enter is unknown and in the future, queráis must be in the subjunctive.
Why is podéis in the indicative if the other two verbs are in the subjunctive?
The verb podéis is the main clause of the sentence and states a fact or a rule: you have permission to enter. The subjunctive is only triggered in the dependent time clauses (una vez que... and cuando...) because those specific conditions are pending, but the rule itself (podéis) is a declared reality.
The translation says 'come in'. Why does the Spanish use entrar instead of a verb like venir?
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