niipea kui
As Soon as (Niipea Kui)
Helistan sulle, niipea kui jõuan means I will call you as soon as I arrive. The main event happens right after the niipea kui event.
How It Works
Niipea kui links two events: the main one happens right after the one in the niipea kui clause.
- Helistan sulle, niipea kui jõuan. (I will call you as soon as I arrive.)
- Niipea kui vihm lakkas, läksime välja. (As soon as the rain stopped, we went out.)
Tense: for the future, use the present in both clauses: Helistan, niipea kui jõuan. For the past, the simple past is usual in both.
Word order: when the niipea kui clause comes first, the main verb follows straight after the comma: Niipea kui ta mind nägi, hakkas ta naerma.
Comma: the clause is always set off with a comma. Put it before niipea kui, or between niipea and kui to stress the timing: Helistan sulle niipea, kui jõuan.
On its own, niipea means soon, usually in negative sentences: Ta ei tule niipea tagasi. (He won't be back any time soon.)
Examples (5)
- Helistan sulle, niipea kui jõuan.
I will call you as soon as I arrive.
Word by Word: I-call you-to as-soon when I-arrive
Both verbs are present, but the meaning is future.
- Niipea kui vihm lakkas, läksime välja.
As soon as the rain stopped, we went out.
The main verb läksime comes right after the fronted clause.
- Anna mulle teada, niipea kui midagi kuuled.
Let me know as soon as you hear anything.
- Niipea kui laps magama jäi, hakkasin lugema.
As soon as the child fell asleep, I started reading.
- Niipea kui ta mind nägi, hakkas ta naerma.
As soon as he saw me, he started laughing.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out kui.
Helistan sulle, niipea jõuan.Helistan sulle, niipea kui jõuan.Niipea alone means soon. To join two events, you need the full conjunction niipea kui.
Leaving out the comma.
Helistan sulle niipea kui jõuan.Helistan sulle, niipea kui jõuan.The niipea kui clause has its own verb, so it needs a comma, either before niipea or before kui.
How It Connects
Learn This First
niipea kui is a time clause like kui.
Related Patterns
- enne kuiBefore (Enne Kui)
Enne kui introduces an event that comes after the main one.
Level 3 - pärast seda, kuiAfter (Pärast Seda, Kui)
Another time conjunction for an event that came first.
Level 3 - kuniUntil (Kuni)
Kuni marks how long something lasts: until.
Level 3 - Commas Before Clauses
A niipea kui clause is always set off with a comma.
Level 3 - Verb in Second Place
After a fronted niipea kui clause, the main verb comes first.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice niipea kui in Bubblegum
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