Should I use hasta or hasta que?

Question

I've been looking into this for a while. Apparently they both mean 'until' and the subjunctive would be needed after hasta que, but not after hasta. Therefore, what is the real difference between them and when would you use either?

Also, does this sentence make sense and use the right version of hasta/hasta que?

Seguiré haciendo cine hasta que tenga que dejarlo.
I will carry on filmmaking until I have to stop doing it.

Thanks a lot for your time.

Answer 1

Perfect! Hasta que + subj when the action which follows hasn't yet happened. There is an alternative construction when the subject of both clauses is the same (as in your case - both 'I'), which is hasta + infinitve: Seguiré haciendo cine hasta tener que dejarlo.

You use hasta que + indicative when the action in the hasta que clause has already happened, e.g. he lived in this house until he died . . .hasta que murió.

The above are conjunctions. When 'until' is a preposition, it's simply hasta, like until 10 = hasta las 10, until his arrival = hasta su llegada.

Answer 2

You have used the right one.

Seguiré haciendo cine hasta que tenga que dejarlo. (OK)

Until tomorrow = hasta mañana