kad + Future

Future After Kad

Level 3

For a future event, put the kad clause in the future too: Kad tu atbrauksi, mēs parunāsim (When you arrive, we will talk).

How It Works

1. Future events. Both the kad clause and the main clause look forward, so both use the future:

  • Kad tu atbrauksi, mēs parunāsim. (When you arrive, we will talk.)
  • Kad būs silts, mēs brauksim uz jūru. (When it is warm, we will go to the seaside.)

2. With a command. The main clause can be a request, while the kad clause stays in the future: Piezvani man, kad būsi mājās. (Call me when you are home.) Kad būsi gatavs, pasaki man. (Tell me when you are ready.)

3. Habits use the present. The present after kad usually describes something that happens regularly: Kad es esmu noguris, es eju gulēt. (When I am tired, I go to bed.) So the tense tells the listener whether you mean one future event or a habit.

4. The past. For the past, use the past tense, as in kad: Kad es biju mazs, es dzīvoju laukos. (When I was little, I lived in the countryside.)

5. Kad or ja? Kad expects the event to happen; ja (if) is not sure. Kad tu atbrauksi means you will surely come. Ja tu atbrauksi means you may or may not come. See ja real conditions.

6. Kad or ka? Do not use kad (when) in place of ka (that): Es ceru, ka tu atbrauksi (I hope that you will come).

A comma always separates the kad clause from the rest (see commas in Latvian).

Examples (6)

  1. Kad tu atbrauksi, mēs parunāsim.

    When you arrive, we will talk.

    English uses the present (arrive), but Latvian uses the future: atbrauksi.

  2. Piezvani man, kad būsi mājās.

    Call me when you are home.

    The main clause is a command; the kad clause is still in the future.

  3. Kad es pabeigšu darbu, es iešu mājās.

    When I finish work, I will go home.

  4. Kad būsi gatavs, pasaki man.

    Tell me when you are ready.

    Said to a man. To a woman: Kad būsi gatava ...

  5. Kad būs silts, mēs brauksim uz jūru.

    When it is warm, we will go to the seaside.

  6. Kad es esmu noguris, es eju gulēt.

    When I am tired, I go to bed.

    This is a regular habit, so both verbs are in the present.

Common Mistakes

  • Using kad when the event is not certain.

    Kad rīt līs, mēs paliksim mājās.
    Ja rīt līs, mēs paliksim mājās.

    To say If it rains tomorrow, use ja. Kad rīt līs means When it rains tomorrow, as if you are sure it will rain.

  • Using kad instead of ka (that).

    Es ceru, kad tu atbrauksi.
    Es ceru, ka tu atbrauksi.

    After verbs like ceru (I hope), zinu (I know) and saku (I say), use ka (that). Kad means when.

  • Leaving out the comma.

    Kad tu atbrauksi mēs parunāsim.
    Kad tu atbrauksi, mēs parunāsim.

    A comma always separates the kad clause from the main clause.

How It Connects

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

kad + FutureLevel 3Future After Kad

Learn This First

Kad with the future follows the future tense.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

kad