Cuando + presente de Subjuntivo to express future intentions

Question

How would you say "When she opens her presents at Christmas she often gets perfume"?
The answer given is: "Cuando ella abre sus regalos en navidad a menudo tiene perfume." The present subjunctive for abrir (3rd person) is abra, no?

Answer

Dear William, thank you for your question. This lesson talks about using "cuando" with Presente de Subjuntivo to express future intentions. However, you can also use Presente de Indicativo to talk about facts. In your example, the fact of opening presents doesn't refer to the future but as a general event instead. It means "everytime that she opens her presents in Christmas she usually gets a perfum." Therefore we can't use Presente de Subjuntivo here, because it doesn't refer to the future. I hope it makes sense! Muchas gracias, Silvia.

Answer

Then surely either the lesson should mention this difference, or the question shouldn't link to this lesson?

Answer

Hola Nev! This difference between the indicative and the subjunctive is already mentioned in the lesson. Thanks for your contribution! Silvia