доколку
Formal Conditions
Доколку means if and belongs to formal language: Доколку имате прашања, јавете ни се. (If you have any questions, contact us.) In everyday talk, people usually say ако.
How It Works
Where you see it. Доколку is typical of notices, company emails, forms, the news and laws: Доколку не се пријавите до петок, нема да можете да учествувате. Some speakers find it too official for a chat with friends, where ако sounds natural.
Verb forms. Use the present after доколку, even for future events: Доколку дојдете порано, ќе ве почекаме. (If you come earlier, we will wait for you.) A perfective verb such as дојде can stand here, just as after ако (see perfective verbs after да, ќе and ако).
The result half. It is often a polite command or ќе with the present: Доколку имате прашања, јавете ни се. Доколку врне, натпреварот ќе се одложи. A би result makes a request softer: Би сакал да зборувам со директорот, доколку е можно.
Negative. Put не right after доколку: Доколку не добиете одговор, пишете ни повторно. For "unless", see освен ако не.
Not "whether". Like ако, доколку only introduces a condition. For "whether" after verbs like знае or праша, use дали: Не знам дали ќе дојде.
An older meaning. In bookish style, доколку ... дотолку means "to the extent that ... to that extent". You will rarely need it.
Examples (5)
- Доколку имате прашања, јавете ни се.
If you have any questions, contact us.
Word by Word: If you-have questions, call us yourselves.
A typical closing line in a formal email.
- Доколку дојдете порано, ќе ве почекаме.
If you come earlier, we will wait for you.
Word by Word: If you-come earlier, will you we-wait.
- Доколку врне, натпреварот ќе се одложи.
If it rains, the match will be postponed.
Word by Word: If rains, match-the will itself postpone.
- Доколку не се пријавите до петок, нема да можете да учествувате.
If you do not register by Friday, you will not be able to take part.
Word by Word: If not yourselves register until Friday, not-will to can to take-part.
- Би сакал да зборувам со директорот, доколку е можно.
I would like to speak with the director, if possible.
Word by Word: Would liked to speak with director-the, if is possible.
Common Mistakes
Using доколку for "whether".
Не знам доколку ќе дојде.Не знам дали ќе дојде.Доколку means "if" only in the sense of a condition. After verbs like знае (know) or праша (ask), "whether" is дали.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Formal conditions follow real conditions.
Related Patterns
- да / ќе / ако + Perfective VerbPerfective Verbs After Да Ќе and Ако
Like ако, доколку allows a perfective verb in the present.
Level 2 - освен ако неUnless
The way to say "unless", which names the one case that would change the plan.
Level 4 - дали in Reported QuestionsReporting a Yes or No Question
Use дали, not доколку, for "whether".
Level 3 - во случај даIn Case
Another way to set up a possible situation: "in case".
Level 5 - кога би ... биImagined Situations with Би
For an imagined, less likely situation, use кога би with the l-form.
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice доколку in Bubblegum
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