To express how long an action takes to complete, Farsi uses the compound verb طول کشیدن (to last / to take time). When linking this duration to the specific action being completed, we use the conjunction تا (until / for) followed by the Present Subjunctive.
Stating the Duration
Because the duration itself is the subject taking up time, طول کشیدن is almost always conjugated in the third-person singular (طول میکشد).
[Time Duration] + طول میکشد + تا + [Present Subjunctive]
| It takes two weeks for the tattoo on my skin to heal. | دو هفته طول میکشد تا خالکوبی روی پوست من خوب شود.do hafte tul mikeshad tâ khâlkubi ruye pust man khub shavad. |
| It takes a month for the infection to heal. | یک ماه طول میکشد تا عفونت خوب شود.yek mâh tul mikeshad tâ ofunat khub shavad. |
| It takes ten years for this design to fade. | ده سال طول میکشد تا این طرح محو شود.dah sâl tul mikeshad tâ in tarh mahv shavad. |
Asking "How Long?"
To ask someone how long a process will take—like the lengthy healing of a new tattoo (خالکوبی)—simply replace the time duration with a question word like چقدر (how much/long) or چند روز (how many days).
| How long does it take to choose a design for the tattoo? | چقدر طول میکشد تا یک طرح برای خالکوبی انتخاب کنی؟cheqadr tul mikeshad tâ yek tarh barâye khâlkubi entekhâb koni? |
| How many days does it take for the itching and burning to stop? | چند روز طول میکشد تا خارش و سوزش تمام شود؟chand ruz tul mikeshad tâ khâresh o suzesh tamâm shavad? |
Anticipating the Result
The reason we use the subjunctive after تا is because the completion of the action hasn't happened yet—it is anticipated or desired. You will see this frequently when talking about medical treatments, waiting for a wound to heal, or waiting for a burning sensation (سوزش) to fade.
| It takes a few minutes for the burning to stop. | چند دقیقه طول میکشد تا سوزش تمام شود.chand daqiqe tul mikeshad tâ suzesh tamâm shavad. |
