čim

As Soon as

Level 4

As soon as: čim.

How It Works

Čim means as soon as. It joins two events, one right after the other.

  • Future: Čim stignem, nazvat ću te. (As soon as I arrive, I will call you.)
  • Habit: Čim dođem kući, skuham kafu. (As soon as I get home, I make coffee.)
  • Past: Čim je ušao, počela je kiša. (As soon as he came in, the rain started.)

In the future, English also says as soon as I arrive. Bosnian does the same, using a simple present of a perfective verb: stignem, not ću stići. The future ću goes only in the main clause.

Put a comma between the clauses. Čim says the second event follows right away. Kad (when) does not say that.

Examples (4)

  1. Čim stignem, nazvat ću te.

    As soon as I arrive, I will call you.

    Stignem is perfective present.

  2. Čim dođem kući, skuham kafu.

    As soon as I get home, I make coffee.

    The same pattern describes a habit.

  3. Čim pojedemo, idemo u šetnju.

    As soon as we eat, we go for a walk.

    Pojedemo is perfective present.

  4. Čim je Ajla ušla, svi su se nasmijali.

    As soon as Ajla came in, everyone laughed.

    In the past, use the perfect.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the future after čim.

    Čim ću stići, nazvat ću te.
    Čim stignem, nazvat ću te.

    After čim, use the present, not ću.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

čimLevel 4As Soon as

Learn This First

Čim means as soon as.

Words in This Pattern

čim