Compare waiting for a future endpoint with recounting one that occurred.

The idea

After hasta que, use the subjunctive for a pending future endpoint and the indicative for a completed, asserted event.

Examples

  • Esperaremos hasta que abra la biblioteca.We will wait until the library opens.
  • Quédate aquí hasta que vuelva tu hermana.Stay here until your sister returns.
  • No serviremos la sopa hasta que lleguen todos.We will not serve the soup until everyone arrives.
  • Esperamos hasta que abrió la biblioteca.We waited until the library opened.
  • La música siguió hasta que terminó la fiesta.The music continued until the party ended.
  • El agua corrió hasta que cerraron el grifo.The water ran until they turned off the tap.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Spanish voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

Do not select the mood from the main verb alone: ask whether the endpoint has occurred.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct form: Esperaré hasta que ___ la película. (termine / termina)

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    termine

    termine is the pending end of the film.

  2. Choose the correct form: Ayer esperamos hasta que ___ la lluvia. (paró / pare)

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    paró

    paró reports that the rain actually stopped.

  3. Choose the correct form: No cenaremos hasta que ___ los invitados. (lleguen / llegan)

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    lleguen

    lleguen refers to guests whose arrival is still ahead.

Use it today

Write one sentence about waiting tomorrow and one about waiting yesterday.