keď
When: Keď
Keď joins a time clause to the main clause: Keď prídem domov, zavolám ti (When I get home, I'll call you). For something that happens again and again it means whenever: Keď prší, som doma.
How It Works
One event in the past or future. Keď som prišiel domov, všetci spali. (When I got home, everyone was asleep.) Keď prídem domov, zavolám ti. English uses the present after when for a future event, but Slovak uses a future form: a perfective verb such as prídem, or budem with an infinitive, as in Keď budem mať čas, zavolám.
Repeated events and habits. With a habit keď means whenever: Keď prší, som doma. It also works with a period in the past: Keď som bol malý, býval som na dedine.
keď or kedy. Keď joins two clauses. To ask a question, directly or indirectly, use kedy: Kedy prídeš? Neviem, kedy príde. See question words and indirect questions.
keď, ak or keby. Keď presents something you expect to happen: Keď prídeš (when you come). Ak presents a real condition that may or may not happen: Ak prídeš (if you come). Keby presents something unreal or imagined: Keby si prišiel (if you came).
The comma. A comma separates the keď clause from the main clause, whichever comes first. A keď clause placed inside another clause gets a comma on each side: Zajtra, keď sa vrátim, pôjdeme na výlet.
Keď also appears in až keď (only when), aj keď (even though) and in relative clauses such as deň, keď sme sa stretli (relative keď).
Examples (5)
- Keď prídem domov, zavolám ti.
When I get home, I'll call you.
Word by Word: When I-come home, I-will-call to-you.
Prídem is perfective, so it refers to the future.
- Keď prší, som doma.
When it rains, I stay at home.
Word by Word: When it-rains, I-am at-home.
With a repeated situation, keď means whenever.
- Keď som bol malý, býval som na dedine.
When I was little, I lived in a village.
Word by Word: When I-was small, lived I-was on village.
- Zavolaj mi, keď budeš mať čas.
Call me when you have time.
Word by Word: Call to-me, when you-will have time.
The keď clause uses the future budeš mať, where English uses the present.
- Keď som prišla, film sa už začal.
When I arrived, the film had already started.
Word by Word: When I-arrived, film itself already started.
Common Mistakes
Using the question word kedy to join two clauses.
Kedy prídem domov, zavolám ti.Keď prídem domov, zavolám ti.Kedy asks a question. To join a time clause to the main clause, use keď.
Using keď to ask a question.
Keď prídeš?Kedy prídeš?English uses when for both jobs, but Slovak asks with kedy.
Leaving out the comma after a keď clause.
Keď prídem domov zavolám ti.Keď prídem domov, zavolám ti.A comma separates the keď clause from the main clause.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before When: keď, learn Where, When, How and Why and And, But and Or. keď answers kedy. keď joins a time clause to the main clause.
Related Patterns
- akIf: Ak
Ak is for a real condition that may not happen, while keď is for something expected.
Level 2 - kebyIf It Were So: Keby
Keby is for unreal or imagined situations.
Level 3 - Perfective Verbs for the Future
Explains why keď prídem refers to the future.
Level 2 - až keď / ažNot Until: Až
Až keď means only when.
Level 4 - Relative kde / kam / keďRelative Where and When
Keď can also introduce a relative clause about a time.
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice keď in Bubblegum
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