докато

While and Until with Докато

Level 3Sounds Like dokato

Докато means "while" with an imperfective verb (Докато готвех, той четеше) and "until" with a perfective verb (Чакай тук, докато се върна).

How It Works

1. While, as long as (imperfective). The two actions run side by side: Докато готвех, той четеше. (While I was cooking, he was reading.) In the past, both verbs are often in the imperfect. It can also mean "as long as": Докато си млад, пътувай! (While you're young, travel!)

2. Until (perfective). The main action lasts up to the point in the докато clause:

  • Чакай тук, докато се върна. (Wait here until I come back.)
  • Разбърквай супата, докато заври. (Stir the soup until it boils.)

3. Until with не. Especially after a negative main clause, докато is followed by не. This не does not negate anything: Няма да си тръгна, докато не ми кажеш истината. (I won't leave until you tell me the truth.)

4. No ще after докато. A future action after докато uses the present tense: докато се върна, not *докато ще се върна. See the perfective present in dependent clauses.

5. Whereas. Докато can also contrast two facts: Аз обичам морето, докато сестра ми предпочита планината. (I love the sea, whereas my sister prefers the mountains.)

A докато clause is separated from the main clause by a comma.

Examples (6)

  1. Докато готвех, той четеше.

    While I was cooking, he was reading.

    Imperfective verbs: two actions at the same time.

  2. Чакай тук, докато се върна.

    Wait here until I come back.

    A perfective verb: the waiting ends when I return.

  3. Няма да си тръгна, докато не ми кажеш истината.

    I won't leave until you tell me the truth.

    This не does not make кажеш negative.

  4. Докато си млад, пътувай!

    While you're young, travel!

  5. Разбърквай супата, докато заври.

    Stir the soup until it boils.

  6. Аз обичам морето, докато сестра ми предпочита планината.

    I love the sea, whereas my sister prefers the mountains.

    Докато contrasts two facts.

Common Mistakes

  • Using ще after докато.

    Ще те чакам, докато ще свършиш.
    Ще те чакам, докато свършиш.

    After докато, a future action is in the present tense without ще.

  • Leaving out не after a negative main clause.

    Няма да си тръгна, докато ми кажеш истината.
    Няма да си тръгна, докато не ми кажеш истината.

    With a negative main clause, "until" is expressed with докато не. This не does not negate the verb.

  • Using an imperfective verb when you mean until.

    Чакай тук, докато се връщам.
    Чакай тук, докато се върна.

    With the intended meaning "until I come back", the verb must be perfective. The imperfective се връщам would mean "while I am coming back".

How It Connects

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докатоLevel 3While and Until with Докато

Learn This First

While and until need time clauses and aspect.

Words in This Pattern

докато