додека
While and Until
Додека has two main meanings: while with an ongoing action, and until when followed by не and a completed action: Почекај додека не дојдам. (Wait until I come.)
How It Works
1. While. Додека joins two actions happening at the same time. The verb after it is imperfective, because the action is still going on:
- Додека јадев, гледав телевизија. (While I was eating, I was watching TV.)
- Додека ти готвиш, јас ќе ја поставам масата. (While you cook, I will set the table.)
- Додека живеев во Битола, секој ден одев на пазар. (While I lived in Bitola, I went to the market every day.)
In past stories this is usually the imperfect (see имперфект: читав; одев; носев).
2. Until. Додека не with a perfective verb marks the point where something stops or starts:
- Почекај додека не дојдам. (Wait until I come.)
- Седевме во кафулето додека не престана дождот. (We sat in the café until the rain stopped.)
This не is part of the expression and does not make the sentence negative: the rain really did stop. For the future, use the present form: Нема да излезеш додека не ја завршиш домашната работа. You may also hear сѐ додека не with the same meaning, and додека да in speech.
3. Whereas. Додека can also set two facts side by side; that use is covered in додека за спротивставување.
Until with a time or place: before a noun, use до: до петок, до пет часот (see од ... до). Before a clause, use додека не.
Examples (6)
- Додека јадев, гледав телевизија.
While I was eating, I was watching TV.
Word by Word: While I-was-eating, I-was-watching television.
- Почекај додека не дојдам.
Wait until I come.
Word by Word: Wait while not I-come.
Не here is part of until; the speaker will come.
- Додека ти готвиш, јас ќе ја поставам масата.
While you cook, I will set the table.
Word by Word: While you cook, I will it set table-the.
- Седевме во кафулето додека не престана дождот.
We sat in the café until the rain stopped.
Word by Word: We-were-sitting in café-the while not stopped rain-the.
- Нема да излезеш додека не ја завршиш домашната работа.
You will not go out until you finish your homework.
Word by Word: Not-will to you-go-out while not it you-finish homework-the.
- Додека живеев во Битола, секој ден одев на пазар.
While I lived in Bitola, I went to the market every day.
Word by Word: While I-lived in Bitola, every day I-went to market.
Common Mistakes
Using a perfective verb for while.
Додека изедов, гледав телевизија.Додека јадев, гледав телевизија.While describes an action in progress, so it needs an imperfective verb such as јадев. Изедов means I ate it all up, which cannot be in progress.
Using the preposition до before a clause.
Почекај до дојдам.Почекај додека не дојдам.До is a preposition for nouns and times, as in до петок. Before a clause, until is додека не.
How It Connects
Learn This First
While and until follow кога.
Related Patterns
- Contrastive додекаWhereas
Додека also means whereas, setting two facts side by side.
Level 5 - Verb Aspect
The aspect of the verb decides between while and until.
Level 2 - The Imperfect Past
The imperfect is the usual past form after додека meaning while.
Level 2 - да / ќе / ако + Perfective VerbPerfective Verbs After Да Ќе and Ако
A perfective present verb can follow додека не, just as it follows да, ќе and ако.
Level 2 - од ... доFrom One Point to Another
До marks until before a noun or time; додека не does so before a clause.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice додека in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Macedonian lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
