Spanish · B1 · Family moment
Friends Again Soon in Spanish
This guide helps parents navigate friendship repairs with their children using temporal clauses to express immediate sequence. In Spanish, we use 'en cuanto' or 'tan pronto como' to say 'as soon as'. When these phrases refer to a future action that has not happened yet, they must be followed by the subjunctive mood.
What you'll learn
- Express that one action will follow another immediately
- Correctly use the Present Subjunctive after temporal conjunctions like 'en cuanto'
- Model kind communication and conflict resolution
Spanish phrases for friends again soon
En cuanto te sientas más tranquilo, podremos hablar de la discusión.
As soon as you feel calmer, we can talk about the argument.
Uses 'sientas' (subjunctive) because the calming down is a future event.
Te escucharé tan pronto como estés listo para explicarlo.
I'll listen as soon as you are ready to explain.
'Estés' is the subjunctive form of 'estar'.
En cuanto veamos a tu amigo en la puerta del colegio, podrás pedirle perdón.
As soon as we see your friend at the school gate, you can say sorry.
'Pedir perdón' is the natural way to say 'to apologize' or 'to say sorry'.
Podrás pedir otro turno en cuanto termine el juego.
You can ask for another turn as soon as the game ends.
'Termine' is the subjunctive of 'terminar'.
En cuanto llegue tu amigo, podrás explicarle qué te molestó.
As soon as your friend arrives, you can explain what upset you.
'Llegue' is the subjunctive of 'llegar'.
Organizaremos otra cita para jugar en cuanto ambos se sientan listos.
We'll arrange another playdate as soon as both of you feel ready.
'Cita para jugar' is a common way to translate 'playdate'.
En cuanto se pongan de acuerdo con las reglas, podrán empezar de nuevo.
As soon as you agree on the rules, you can start again.
'Ponerse de acuerdo' means 'to agree' or 'to reach an understanding'.
Te ayudaré a escribir un mensaje amable en cuanto lleguemos a casa.
I'll help you write a kind message as soon as we get home.
'Lleguemos' is the subjunctive of 'llegar'.
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En cuanto
As soon as
Very common in spoken Spanish for immediate sequence.
Tan pronto como
As soon as
Slightly more formal than 'en cuanto' but interchangeable.
Discusión
Argument / Dispute
Note that 'discusión' usually means a heated argument, not just a discussion.
Pedir perdón
To apologize
Literally 'to ask for forgiveness'.
Temporal Subordinate Clauses with the Subjunctive
When using 'en cuanto' (as soon as) to talk about a future action or something that hasn't happened yet, the verb that follows must be in the Subjunctive mood. This is because the event is viewed as a condition or an anticipated moment, not a proven fact.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | En cuanto + [Subjunctive Verb] + [Future/Command] | En cuanto *limpies* (subj.), *podrás* (fut.) jugar. |
| Llegar (to arrive) | llegue / llegues / lleguemos | En cuanto llegue el tren... |
| Estar (to be) | esté / estés / estemos | En cuanto estés preparado... |
More examples
En cuanto termines tu merienda, buscaremos a tu amigo.
As soon as you finish your snack, we will look for your friend.
Uses 'termines' in the subjunctive.
Podréis jugar juntos en cuanto compartáis los juguetes.
You all can play together as soon as you share the toys.
'Compartáis' is the vosotros form of 'compartir' (subjunctive).