How do I use ‘since’ and ‘for’ in Pashto?

Understanding ‘Since’ and ‘For’ in English

Before diving into Pashto, it is important to clearly understand the difference between ‘since’ and ‘for’ in English:

• Since refers to the starting point of an action or event that continues up to the present. For example, “I have lived here since 2010.”
• For refers to the duration or length of time an action has been happening. For example, “I have lived here for ten years.”

How to Say ‘Since’ in Pashto

In Pashto, ‘since’ is usually translated as “له … راهيسې” (pronounced as “lah … rahisay”) or “د … راهيسې” (pronounced as “da … rahisay”), depending on the context. The structure is:

له/د [starting point] راهيسې

Here are some examples:

• I have lived here since 2010.
  زه دلته له ۲۰۱۰ کال راهيسې اوسېږم. (Za delta lah 2010 kaal rahisay osaygum.)
• She has been working since Monday.
  هغې له دوشنبې راهيسې کار کوي. (Haghay lah doshanbay rahisay kar kawi.)

Remember, ‘له’ (lah) and ‘د’ (da) are both prepositions that can be used before the starting point, but ‘له’ is more common in everyday speech.

How to Say ‘For’ in Pashto

‘For’ is used to express duration and is translated in Pashto as “د … لپاره” (pronounced as “da … lparah”) or just “… پورې” (pronounced as “… poray”) in some cases. The most common structure is:

د [duration] لپاره

Here are some examples:

• I have lived here for ten years.
  زه دلته د لسو کلونو لپاره اوسېږم. (Za delta da laso kaluno lparah osaygum.)
• They studied for two hours.
  هغوی د دوو ساعتونو لپاره مطالعه وکړه. (Haghwi da dowo saatoonoo lparah mutalea wakra.)

Alternatively, you might hear ‘… پورې’ used in certain dialects or contexts, but ‘د … لپاره’ is universally understood and recommended for learners.

Common Mistakes and Tips for Learners

• Do not interchange ‘since’ and ‘for.’ Each word has a specific meaning, so always use ‘له … راهيسې’ for starting points and ‘د … لپاره’ for durations.
• Use the correct verb tense. Just like in English, actions that started in the past and continue to the present often use the present perfect tense in Pashto.
• Practice with real examples. Try translating sentences from your daily life into Pashto using these structures. The more you practice, the more natural it will become.

Practice Exercises

To reinforce your understanding, try translating the following sentences into Pashto:

1. We have been friends since childhood.
2. I have not eaten for three hours.
3. She has lived in Kabul since last year.
4. They have been studying for a month.

Check your answers with a native speaker or use the Talkpal AI language learning app for instant feedback.

Conclusion

Understanding how to use ‘since’ and ‘for’ in Pashto is crucial for expressing time and duration correctly. By remembering the structures ‘له … راهيسې’ for ‘since’ and ‘د … لپاره’ for ‘for,’ you can make your sentences clear and accurate. With consistent practice and resources like the Talkpal AI language learning blog, mastering these concepts will become much easier. Keep practicing, and you will soon feel more confident using Pashto in everyday conversations!