Jusqu'à ce que + Le Subjonctif = Until [someone] does [something] in French
In French, to express "until someone does something or something happens", you use "jusqu'à ce que" + Mode subjonctif.
How to use "jusqu'à ce que" with Mode subjonctif in French
Look at these sentences:
Ma mère me chantait des chansons jusqu'à ce que je m'endorme.My mother used to sing to me until I fell asleep.
Il appellera jusqu'à ce qu'elle réponde.He'll call until she answers.
J'attendrai jusqu'à ce qu'il ait terminé.I'll wait until after he's finished.
On est restés à l'intérieur jusqu'à ce que la pluie s'arrête. We stayed inside until the rain stopped.
To express until [someone] does ... in French, you use:
Never use the ne explétif with jusqu'à ce que
When to use Le Subjonctif Présent or Le Subjonctif Passé?
Regardless of the tense used in the main clause, the question is whether the main clause action will go on until the action after jusqu'à ce que happens, or until it has happened and stopped:
* If it goes on until the moment the action happens, you'll use Le Subjonctif Présent
Nous nous sommes embrassés jusqu'à ce que sa femme arrive.We kissed until his wife arrived.
J'insisterai jusqu'à ce que tu ailles le voir.I'll insist until you go and see him.
* If it goes on until after the action has happened and stopped, you'll use Le Subjonctif Passé.
It's similar to the English construction: until after he's done this
It's similar to the English construction: until after he's done this
Nous nous sommes embrassés jusqu'à ce que sa femme soit arrivée.We kissed until after his wife had arrived.
J'insisterai jusqu'à ce que tu sois allée le voir.I'll insist until you've gone and seen him.
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