штом

As Soon as

Level 3Sounds Like štom

Штом means as soon as: Штом стигнав, ти се јавив. (As soon as I arrived, I called you.) For the future, add ќе: Штом ќе стигнам, ќе ти се јавам.

How It Works

Штом introduces an event that is immediately followed by the event in the main clause.

Past: use the aorist, because both actions are completed: Штом стигнав, ти се јавив. · Штом влезе во собата, сите замолчеа.

Future: use штом ќе and a perfective verb, and ќе in the main clause too: Штом ќе стигнам, ќе ти се јавам. A command also works in the main clause: Јави ми се штом ќе стигнеш. This is the same pattern as кога ќе.

Since, given that: штом can also give the reason or condition for what follows, much like бидејќи; затоа што or ако + сегашно време: Штом велиш дека е добро, ќе го пробам. (Since you say it is good, I will try it.) Context makes the meaning clear.

Similar words: штотуку and тукушто also mean as soon as or just as. To stress speed you can say веднаш штом, but веднаш (immediately) cannot join two clauses on its own.

Examples (6)

  1. Штом стигнав, ти се јавив.

    As soon as I arrived, I called you.

    Word by Word: As-soon-as I-arrived, to-you myself I-called.

  2. Штом ќе стигнам, ќе ти се јавам.

    As soon as I arrive, I will call you.

    Word by Word: As-soon-as will I-arrive, will to-you myself I-call.

  3. Штом влезе во собата, сите замолчеа.

    As soon as he came into the room, everyone went quiet.

    Word by Word: As-soon-as entered in room-the, all fell-silent.

  4. Јави ми се штом ќе стигнеш.

    Call me as soon as you get there.

    Word by Word: Call to-me yourself as-soon-as will you-arrive.

  5. Штом ќе заврши филмот, одиме дома.

    As soon as the film ends, we are going home.

    Word by Word: As-soon-as will ends film-the, we-go home.

  6. Штом велиш дека е добро, ќе го пробам.

    Since you say it is good, I will try it.

    Word by Word: Since you-say that is good, will it I-try.

    Here штом gives a reason rather than a time.

Common Mistakes

  • Using веднаш (immediately) to join two clauses.

    Веднаш стигнав, ти се јавив.
    Штом стигнав, ти се јавив.

    Веднаш is an adverb and cannot link clauses. Use штом, or веднаш штом for extra emphasis.

  • Combining ќе with a past verb.

    Штом ќе стигнав, ти се јавив.
    Штом стигнав, ти се јавив.

    Ќе marks the future and cannot go with the aorist стигнав. For a past event, use штом alone.

How It Connects

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

штомLevel 3As Soon as

Learn This First

As soon as follows кога ќе.

Words in This Pattern

штом