To express that an action continues up to a certain point in time, use the subordinating conjunction تا (until). In this lesson, we will use it to talk about the patient, step-by-step process of crafting and pottery.
When describing factual events that have already happened, the verb following تا takes the standard indicative mood, such as the simple past tense.
| The potter stayed in the workshop until the pottery dried. | سفالگر در کارگاه ماند تا سفال خشک شد.sofâlgar dar kârgâh mând tâ sofâl khoshk shod. |
| I kneaded the clay until the potter arrived. | خاک را ورز دادم تا سفالگر رسید.khâk râ varz dâdam tâ sofâlgar rasid. |
Connecting Two Actions
The conjunction تا connects two clauses: the main action that is ongoing, and the specific event that brings it to a stop. It sits comfortably in the middle of the sentence bridging the two events.
| The wheel spun until I made the jug. | چرخ چرخید تا کوزه را ساختم.charkh charkhid tâ kuze râ sâkhtam |
| The bowl stayed in the kiln until it baked. | کاسه در کوره ماند تا پخت.kâse dar kure mând tâ pokht. |
Notice how both clauses use the simple past tense to describe a completed sequence of events. The first action was continuous or repeated (like spinning or staying), and the second action was the decisive end point.
| We kneaded the clay until we got tired. | خاک را ورز دادیم تا خسته شدیم.khâk râ varz dâdim tâ khaste shodim. |
| You worked in the workshop until the kiln cooled down. | در کارگاه کار کردید تا کوره سرد شد.dar kârgâh kâr kardid tâ kure sard shod. |
