وقتی که
When Clauses with وقتی که
The verb in the when clause shows the time: past, habit or a future event.
How It Works
The when clause usually comes first and ends with a comma. It can also come second, with no comma.
| Time | When clause | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| past | وقتی که کودک بودم | when I was a child |
| habit | وقتی به خانه می‌رسم | when I get home |
| future | وقتی که برسم | when I arrive |
After وقتی که, Dari does not use the future with خواه. Say وقتی که برسم (when I arrive), with the subjunctive, the way English says when I arrive.
The two clauses can use different tenses. In وقتی که به پوهنتون رسیدم، درس شروع شده بود, the past perfect shows that the class began before you arrived.
After a state in the past, such as کودک بودم, the main clause takes the past with می for what used to happen: در هرات زندگی می‌کردیم (we lived in Herat).
To ask a question, use چه وقت or کی. وقتی که only joins two parts of a sentence.
Examples (5)
- وقتی که کودک بودم، در هرات زندگی می‌کردیم.
When I was a child, we lived in Herat.
The past tense in the when clause talks about a finished time.
- وقتی به خانه می‌رسم، اول چای می‌خورم.
When I get home, I have tea first.
The present tense in the when clause talks about a habit. که is left out.
- وقتی که برسم، به تو زنگ می‌زنم.
When I arrive, I will call you.
برسم is the subjunctive, which talks about one event in the future.
- وقتی که باران شروع شد، همه به خانه رفتند.
When the rain started, everyone went home.
Two past events follow each other: the rain started, then everyone left.
- وقتی که به پوهنتون رسیدم، درس شروع شده بود.
When I got to the university, the class had already started.
The main clause uses the past perfect for what was finished before.
Common Mistakes
Using the future with خواه after وقتی که.
وقتی که خواهم رسید، به تو زنگ می‌زنم.وقتی که برسم، به تو زنگ می‌زنم.A when clause takes the subjunctive for a future event, not the future with خواه.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The clause joins the main sentence with که and often tells the past.
Related Patterns
- قبل از اینکهBefore Something Happens
قبل از اینکه names the later event, the one something else happens before.
Level 4 - بعد از اینکهAfter Something Happens
بعد از اینکه says what happens next.
Level 4 - تا وقتی کهUntil and as Long as
تا وقتی که says how long something lasts.
Level 4 - The Past Perfect
رفته بود shows what was already finished.
Level 4 - چه وقتAsking When
چه وقت and کی ask a question about time.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice وقتی که in Bubblegum
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