dok

While

Level 4

While, and until with ne.

How It Works

The word dok has two main jobs.

While: two actions at the same time. The verbs are usually imperfective, since the actions continue.

  • Dok čitam, pijem kafu. While I read, I drink coffee.
  • Dok Amir kuha ručak, Selma pere sudove. While Amir cooks lunch, Selma washes the dishes.

Until: put ne after dok, before the verb. This ne does not make the sentence negative in English, but Bosnian needs it.

  • Čekam dok ne dođe autobus. I wait until the bus comes.

The past works the same way: Dok je padala kiša, čitali smo. (While it was raining, we were reading.)

When the dok clause comes first, a comma follows it. When it comes last, as in the waiting example, no comma is needed. The verb in the second clause can be a different tense from the first.

Examples (4)

  1. Dok čitam, pijem kafu.

    While I read, I drink coffee.

    Dok joins two actions at once.

  2. Dok Amir kuha ručak, Selma pere sudove.

    While Amir cooks lunch, Selma washes the dishes.

    Both actions go on together.

  3. Čekam dok ne dođe autobus.

    I am waiting until the bus comes.

    Dok ne means until.

  4. Dok je padala kiša, čitali smo.

    While it was raining, we were reading.

    Dok works in the past too.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out ne after dok for until.

    Čekam dok dođe autobus.
    Čekam dok ne dođe autobus.

    Until needs dok ne.

How It Connects

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

dokLevel 4While

Learn This First

Dok means while.

Words in This Pattern

dok