ata que / desde que / unha vez que

Time Clauses

Level 4

Ata que means until, desde que means since and unha vez que means once. For a future moment, use the subjunctive: Agarda ata que volva (wait until I come back).

How It Works

Three time conjunctions

  • ata que = until. It marks the end point of the main action.
  • desde que = since. It marks the starting point. Dende que is an accepted variant with the same meaning.
  • unha vez que = once, after. The main action happens when the first one is finished.

Choosing the mood

Galician uses the same rule as cando and en canto:

  • Future moment: present subjunctive. Agarda ata que volva (wait until I come back); Unha vez que remates os deberes, podes saír (once you finish your homework, you can go out).
  • Past or habitual fact: indicative. Agardamos ata que abriron a tenda (we waited until they opened the shop); Unha vez que rematamos, fomos cear (once we had finished, we went to have dinner).

Desde que almost always looks back at a real starting point, so it takes the indicative: Desde que vivo en Lugo, vou a pé ao traballo (since I have lived in Lugo, I walk to work). Galician uses the present tense here for something that started in the past and is still true.

Never the future. After these conjunctions, do not use the future indicative: say ata que volva, not ata que volverei.

With the personal infinitive. Ata can also be followed by an infinitive with its own ending: Quedo contigo ata chegaren os teus pais (I will stay with you until your parents arrive).

Pronouns. These conjunctions start a subordinate clause, so a pronoun goes before the verb: ata que me digas a verdade.

Examples (6)

  1. Agarda ata que volva.

    Wait until I come back.

    Word by Word: Wait until that I-return.

    Volva is present subjunctive: the return is still in the future.

  2. Desde que chegou, non parou de falar.

    Since she arrived, she has not stopped talking.

    Desde que marks the starting point of a real, past event, so it takes the indicative.

  3. Unha vez que remates os deberes, podes saír.

    Once you finish your homework, you can go out.

    Remates is present subjunctive because the finishing is still ahead.

  4. Agardamos na porta ata que abriron a tenda.

    We waited at the door until they opened the shop.

    A past fact takes the indicative: abriron.

  5. Non me movo daquí ata que me digas a verdade.

    I am not moving from here until you tell me the truth.

    After ata que the pronoun me goes before the verb digas.

  6. Desde que vivo en Lugo, vou a pé ao traballo.

    Since I have lived in Lugo, I have walked to work.

    Galician uses the present tense for a situation that began in the past and is still true.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the future indicative after ata que.

    Agarda aquí ata que volverei.
    Agarda aquí ata que volva.

    A future moment after ata que takes the present subjunctive (volva), never the future indicative (volverei).

  • Using the indicative for a future moment after unha vez que.

    Unha vez que rematas, avísame.
    Unha vez que remates, avísame.

    The finishing has not happened yet, so it needs the subjunctive: remates.

  • Putting the pronoun after the verb inside the time clause.

    Non me movo ata que dígasme a verdade.
    Non me movo ata que me digas a verdade.

    Ata que starts a subordinate clause, so the pronoun me goes before the verb: ata que me digas.

How It Connects

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

ata que / desde que / unha vez queLevel 4Time Clauses

Learn This First

Time connectors marking an endpoint or starting point follow appropriate tense and mood choices.

Words in This Pattern

atadendevez