až keď / až
Not Until: Až
Až shows that something happens later than expected: až zajtra (not until tomorrow), až o piatej (not until five), až keď prišiel (only when he came).
How It Works
Later than expected. The particle až says that something happens only at a certain point and not before: Príde až zajtra (He won't come until tomorrow), Obchod otvárajú až o deviatej (The shop doesn't open until nine). English needs not ... until, but Slovak keeps the verb positive.
Až keď + clause. With a whole clause, use až keď: Až keď prišiel domov, všimol si to (Only when he got home did he notice it). The clause can also come second: Všimol si to, až keď prišiel domov. Compare keď alone, which just means when.
Až as a conjunction. At the start of a clause, až can mean when, about a future moment: Až budeš mať čas, zavolaj mi (When you have time, call me). After verbs of waiting it means until: Počkaj, až skončím (Wait until I finish). Kým with a negated verb says the same: Počkaj, kým neskončím.
Other meanings. Až do + genitive means all the way to or until: až do rána (until morning), až do Košíc. Before a number, až means as many as: Prišlo až dvadsať ľudí.
Examples (6)
- Príde až zajtra.
He won't come until tomorrow.
Word by Word: He-will-come only tomorrow.
The verb stays positive.
- Až keď prišiel domov, všimol si to.
Only when he got home did he notice it.
Word by Word: Only when he-came home, noticed himself it.
- Obchod otvárajú až o deviatej.
The shop doesn't open until nine.
Word by Word: Shop they-open only at ninth.
- Počkaj, až skončím.
Wait until I finish.
Word by Word: Wait, until I-finish.
After a verb of waiting, až means until.
- Až budeš mať čas, zavolaj mi.
When you have time, call me.
Word by Word: When you-will-be to-have time, call me.
- Zostali sme tam až do rána.
We stayed there until morning.
Word by Word: We-stayed are there all-the-way to morning.
Až do + genitive: until, all the way to.
Common Mistakes
Adding a negative verb, as in English not ... until.
Nepríde až zajtra.Príde až zajtra.Až already means not until, so the verb stays positive. Nepríde až zajtra does not mean he won't come until tomorrow.
Leaving out do when you mean until a time.
Zostanem tu až piatok.Zostanem tu až do piatku.To say how long something lasts, use až do + genitive: až do piatku (until Friday). Až piatok alone is not a complete time phrase.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Not Until: až, learn When: keď. až keď narrows a keď clause.
Related Patterns
- kýmWhile and Until: Kým
Kým with a negated verb is another way to say until.
Level 3 - už / ešteAlready, Still and Yet
Už means already, the opposite idea: sooner than expected.
Level 2 - len / ibaOnly: Len and Iba
Až also has an only meaning, as in až zajtra (only tomorrow).
Level 2 - do + GenitiveGoing into: Do
Až do + genitive means until or all the way to.
Level 1 - len čo / hneď akoAs Soon as
The opposite timing: right away, as soon as.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice až keď / až in Bubblegum
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