What verb conjugation is this...?

Question

I was talking to a friend and he wanted me to do a favor for him but I told him "Voy a hacerlo cuando regreso a mi casa." He then corrected me and said it is regrese instead. I was confused as to why it is like this and I was wondering if someone could clear this up for me. Also, what type of conjugation is this?

Thank you!!

Answer 1

That is the present subjunctive- both first person and 3rd person singular/second person formal singular.

Whenever cuando refers to an event that has not yet happened, you need subjunctive rather than indicative.

See this game thread by Tosh and Cordobesa- the question includes a good explanation by Tosh, and the answers demonstrate how to do it, all corrected by Cordobesa.

http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/268200/weekend-subjunctive-practice-1-cuando

This also has an explanation, see section III:

http://users.ipfw.edu/jehle/courses/SUBJADV.HTM

Por lo general lo hago cuando nos levantamos. I usually do it when we get up. [Indicative]

Lo haré cuando nos levantemos. I'll do it when we get up. [Subjunctive]

Very helpful! Thank you so much! I did not know that the subjunctive was used this way. - kahannah, Dec 15, 2014

De nada. :) - bosquederoble, Dec 15, 2014