Perfective Present for Repeated Events
To say "whenever this happens, that happens", put a perfective verb after кога ќе, штом or ако: Кога ќе дојде, секогаш носи подарок. (Whenever she comes, she always brings a present.)
How It Works
The pattern. A habit often has two parts: a trigger that happens and is finished, and a reaction. The trigger takes a perfective present after one of these words:
- кога ќе: Кога ќе дојде, секогаш носи подарок.
- штом (ќе): Штом ќе стигнам дома, ги соблекувам чевлите. (As soon as I get home, I take off my shoes.) See as soon as.
- ако: Ако ги заборавам клучевите, ѕвонам кај соседите. (If I forget my keys, I ring at the neighbours'.) See real conditions.
The main clause uses the imperfective present, because it describes something that happens regularly: носи, соблекувам, ѕвонам. Words like секогаш and обично fit well (see describing habits).
Why ќе after кога. A perfective present cannot stand on its own (see perfective verbs after да, ќе and ако). After кога it needs ќе: this is the same кога ќе as in future time clauses, but here it means "every time". Without ќе, use the imperfective instead: Кога влегувам во училницата...
In the past. For a habit in the past, both verbs move into the imperfect: Кога ќе дојдеше, секогаш носеше подарок. (Whenever she came, she always brought a present.) See past habits with ќе.
Examples (6)
- Кога ќе дојде, секогаш носи подарок.
Whenever she comes, she always brings a present.
Word by Word: When will she-come, always she-brings present.
- Штом ќе стигнам дома, ги соблекувам чевлите.
As soon as I get home, I take off my shoes.
Word by Word: As-soon-as will I-arrive home, them I-take-off shoes-the.
- Ако ги заборавам клучевите, ѕвонам кај соседите.
If I forget my keys, I ring at the neighbours'.
Word by Word: If them I-forget keys-the, I-ring at neighbours-the.
- Секогаш кога ќе го видам, ми се насмевнува.
Whenever I see him, he smiles at me.
Word by Word: Always when will him I-see, to-me self he-smiles.
- Штом ќе ја слушнат музиката, децата почнуваат да играат.
As soon as they hear the music, the children start dancing.
Word by Word: As-soon-as will it they-hear music-the, children-the start to dance.
- Кога ќе дојдеше, секогаш носеше подарок.
Whenever she came, she always brought a present.
Word by Word: When will she-came, always she-brought present.
The same habit in the past uses the imperfect in both clauses.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out ќе after кога with a perfective verb.
Кога дојдам дома, прво се туширам.Кога ќе дојдам дома, прво се туширам.A perfective present cannot stand alone after кога. Add ќе, or use the imperfective: Кога доаѓам дома...
How It Connects
Learn This First
Perfective presents for repeated events combine кога ќе and habits.
Related Patterns
- штомAs Soon as
Штом marks the reaction as immediate.
Level 3 - ако + Present TenseReal Conditions
Ако with a perfective present for real conditions.
Level 3 - да / ќе / ако + Perfective VerbPerfective Verbs After Да Ќе and Ако
Explains why a perfective present needs a word like ќе.
Level 2 - ќе + Imperfect for Past HabitsPast Habits with Ќе
The past version of this habit pattern.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice Perfective Present for Repeated Events in Bubblegum
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