In Russian, we когда transcribed kagDAmeaning when and other conjunctions of time to introduce clauses that describe when something happened. For example:
Are you reading this post while waiting for a friend? Or before a class starts? Or after you had lunch? The words in bold are examples of conjunctions of time that we are going to discuss below. Follow me!
What kinds of conjunctions of time are there?
We can divide conjunctions of time into three main subcategories, based on their meaning:
Conjunctions like “after”:
These introduce events that precede the situation in the main clause.
happens firstAfter we came in, Dad told us the news.Conjunctions like “while”:
These introduce events that happen at the same time as the situation in the main clause.
happen at the same timeWhile we were coming in, Dad told us the news.Conjunctions like “before”:
Those introducing clauses with events that follow the ones in the main clause.
happens secondBefore letting us in, Dad told us the news.
Below you can find Russian time conjunctions, broken into the three categories described above.
Conjunctions like “after”
These conjunctions link a clause with events that happen before the ones in the main clause. They are grouped below according to nuances in meaning:
The conjunctions below all mean “right after” or “just after”:
- как толькоTranscription: kak TOLkaTranslation: as soon as / right after
- едва... (как …)Transcription: yidVA… (kak…)Translation: hardly / no sooner / right after
- только... (как …)Transcription: TOLka… (kak…)Translation: hardly / no sooner / right after
- чуть (только)... (как …)Transcription: choot (TOLka)... (kak…)Translation: hardly / no sooner / right after
Как только is the most widely-used in this group:
Позвони мне, как только придёшь домой.Transcription: pazvaNEE mnye kak TOLka priDYOSH daMOY.Translation: Call me as soon as you get home.Едва, только, and чуть (только) tend to be used with past events. The final как may optionally introduce the main clause.
Едва / Только / Чуть (только) он переступил порог, (как) раздался звонок.Transcription: yidVA / TOLka / choot (NOLka) on piristooPEEL paROK (kak) razDALsya zvaNOK.Translation: Right after he stepped inside, (that) there was a ring.пока не transcribed paKA nye means “until” or “unless.”
Она будет пытаться, пока не добьётся нужного результата.Transcription: aNA BOOdit pyTAtsa paKA ni dabYOtsa NOOZHnava rizoolTAta.Translation: She will keep on trying until she achieves the necessary result.The conjunctions below usually are for actions that happened quite a while before the action in the main clause.
- с тех пор какTranscription: s tyekh por kakTranslation: since
- после того какTranscription: pOSlye taVO kakTranslation: after
For example:
С тех пор как / После того как я закончил школу, система экзаменов сильно изменилась.Transcription: s tyekh por kak / POSlye taVO kak ya zaKONchil SHKOloo sisTYEma igZAmihaf SEELna izmiNEElas.Translation: Since / After I graduated from school, the exam system has changed dramatically.
Conjunctions like “while”
There is only one conjunction meaning “while” that is always used for simultaneous events in Russian: пока transcribed paKAmeaning while.
The conjunction пока is used with positive, imperfective verbs.
Conjunctions like “before”
Used at the beginning of the dependent clause, these conjunctions create the idea that events in the dependent clause follow the events in the main clause.
- прежде чемTranscription: PRYEZHdye chemTranslation: before / prior to
- до того какTranscription: da taVO kakTranslation: before / prior to
- перед тем какTranscription: PYErit tyem kakTranslation: before / prior to
These conjunctions all mean “before” or “prior to,” though прежде чем is the most common out of the three.
These can either be used before full clauses (with a subject and verb) or before an infinitive verb, as in the example below.
Conclusion
In this post, we looked at Russian conjunctions of time: the most widely-used, universal когда transcribed kagDAmeaning when, and others that fall into three categories:
Those with the meaning of preceding, e.g. как только transcribed kak TOLkameaning as soon as
One with the meaning of simultaneity: пока transcribed paKAmeaning while
Those with the meaning of following, e.g. прежде чем transcribed PRYEZHdye chemmeaning before
Are you ready to practice using conjunctions of time? Download our Russian conjunctions of time exercises below! Or, if you’d rather review what we’ve learned, have a look at our printable Russian subordinating conjunctions master sheet. You can use it as a reference to help you study your conjunctions of time and to help you review all your other Russian subordinating conjunctions!
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