Spanish uses the subjunctive after certain time expressions when referring to future events that have not yet occurred. One of the most common expressions is cuando. In this module, you will learn how the subjunctive appears after cuando when talking about future situations.
When cuando refers to an event that will happen in the future, the verb after it uses the subjunctive.
Example Sentences
Te llamaré cuando llegue a casa. – I will call you when I arrive home.
Empezaremos cuando todos estén aquí. – We will begin when everyone is here.
Saldrán cuando termine la reunión. – They will leave when the meeting ends.
Hablaremos cuando tengamos más información. – We will talk when we have more information.
Descansaremos cuando terminemos el trabajo. – We will rest when we finish the work.
Speakers commonly use cuando with the subjunctive when discussing plans.
Example Sentences
Te avisaré cuando encuentre la solución. – I will notify you when I find the solution.
Empezarán cuando llegue el director. – They will start when the director arrives.
Responderemos cuando recibamos el mensaje. – We will respond when we receive the message.
Celebrarán cuando ganen el campeonato. – They will celebrate when they win the championship.
Volveremos cuando termine el proyecto. – We will return when the project ends.
The subjunctive appears because the event has not happened yet and is uncertain.
Example Sentences
Te escribiré cuando llegue al hotel. – I will write to you when I arrive at the hotel.
Hablaremos cuando encontremos una solución. – We will talk when we find a solution.
Te visitaré cuando tenga vacaciones. – I will visit you when I have vacation.
Ellos empezarán cuando reciban permiso. – They will start when they receive permission.
Nos reuniremos cuando termine la conferencia. – We will meet when the conference ends.
When the action has already happened, Spanish uses the indicative instead of the subjunctive.
Example Sentences
Te llamé cuando llegué a casa. – I called you when I arrived home.
Empezamos cuando todos llegaron. – We began when everyone arrived.
Salieron cuando terminó la reunión. – They left when the meeting ended.
Hablamos cuando recibimos el mensaje. – We talked when we received the message.
Celebraron cuando ganaron el campeonato. – They celebrated when they won the championship.
Spanish speakers frequently use this structure when talking about upcoming events.
Example Sentences
Te avisaré cuando tenga noticias. – I will notify you when I have news.
Empezaremos cuando lleguen los invitados. – We will start when the guests arrive.
Hablaremos cuando termine la conferencia. – We will talk when the conference ends.
Regresaremos cuando termine el evento. – We will return when the event ends.
Celebrarán cuando termine el proyecto. – They will celebrate when the project ends.
In this module, you learned how the subjunctive appears after cuando when referring to future events. Because the action has not yet occurred, the subjunctive expresses uncertainty about when it will happen. Understanding this structure helps you talk about future plans and timing more naturally in Spanish.