Cuando + present subjunctive to discuss future possibilities

Maureen T.B1Kwiziq community member

Cuando + present subjunctive to discuss future possibilities

This sentence was marked as incorrect:

Cuando ella abra sus regalos en navidad a menudo tiene perfume.

The english translation was that often when she opens presents she gets perfume. Doesn't that denote possibility in the future and so it should be subjunctive?

Asked 2 months ago
InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hola Maureen

The sentence:  Cuando ella abre sus regalos en Navidad a menudo tiene perfume, using the present indicative, is still expressing something that "she does every Christmas" and very often (in many of those occasions) she does get perfume. So, despite something happening "often", we are still talking about a habitual action. 

For this to be a future action you'd need the present subjunctive and then the future tense in the second clause:

Cuando abra sus regalos en Navidad, tendrá un perfume. 

When she opens her presents at Christmas (the Christmas still to come), she'll get perfume.

Saludos

Inma

 

Cuando + present subjunctive to discuss future possibilities

This sentence was marked as incorrect:

Cuando ella abra sus regalos en navidad a menudo tiene perfume.

The english translation was that often when she opens presents she gets perfume. Doesn't that denote possibility in the future and so it should be subjunctive?

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