Rules and usage
These three verbal adverb suffixes mark the relationship between two actions or events in a sentence. Each suffix gives different information about timing and manner. Understanding which to use depends on whether actions happen at the same time, in sequence, or how one action leads to another.
The -ken Suffix
- The -ken suffix shows that two actions happen at the same time. It answers the question "while" or "when" in the sense of "during the time that." The action marked with -ken is ongoing when the main action occurs.
- Kitap okurken müzik dinlerim: I listen to music while reading a book.
- Ders dinlerken telefon kullandı: He used his phone while listening to the lesson.
- Çay içerken gazetesini okudu: While drinking tea, he read his newspaper.
- Arabayı sürerken şarkı söylüyordu: While driving the car, he was singing.
- The -ken suffix attaches to the verb stem. When the verb uses the -yor tense, the form is geliyorken (while coming), bekliyorken (while waiting). With past tense, you may see gelmişken or geldiği halde for "although he had come," though these are less common than -ken with the present or ongoing stems.
✅ Positive sentence examples
| Turkish | English |
|---|
| Kitap okunken müzik dinliyorum. | While reading a book, I listen to music. |
| Yemek pişirirken televizyon izliyorum. | While cooking, I watch television. |
⛔ Negative sentence examples
| Turkish | English |
|---|
| Okunken gürültü duymuyorum. | While reading, I don't hear noise. |
| Uyumayken çalışıyorum. | While not sleeping, I work. |
❓ Question sentence examples
| Turkish | English |
|---|
| Yürürken müzik dinler misin? | Do you listen to music while walking? |
| Yemek yerken telefona bakıyor musunuz? | Are you looking at your phone while eating? |