जब ... तब
When ... Then
जब starts the time clause, and तब starts the main one.
How It Works
The pair जब ... तब links two events in time: "when ... then". जब marks the first event, and तब answers it.
| Time clause | Main clause |
|---|---|
| जब हम छोट रहेन, | तब बरखा मा नाचत रहेन। |
| जब पानी बरसी, | तब हम घरे रहब। |
| जब ऊ आवा, | तब सब चुप होइ गए। |
A time clause about the future takes a form that matches its subject: the future in जब पानी बरसी, the short form in जब तुम फुरसत मा रहौ. The main clause then takes the right future or a command.
तब is easy to drop in speech when the meaning is clear: जब ऊ आवा, सब चुप होइ गए. Keep it in your first sentences, because it shows where the second half begins.
जब तक ... तब तक means "as long as" or "until" and has its own entry.
Examples (4)
- जब हम छोट रहेन, तब बरखा मा नाचत रहेन।
When I was little, I used to dance in the rain.
जब gives the time, तब starts the habit.
- जब पानी बरसी, तब हम घरे रहब।
When it rains, I will stay home.
बरसी is the ऊ future after जब.
- जब ऊ आवा, तब सब चुप होइ गए।
When he came, everyone went quiet.
तब points to the result.
- जब तुम फुरसत मा रहौ, तब फोन करौ।
Call when you have some free time.
रहौ and करौ are the तुम forms.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The example tells a past habit with -त रहा.
Related Patterns
Words in This Pattern
Practice जब ... तब in Bubblegum
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