Ders çalışırken müzik dinliyorum.
English: I listen to music while studying.
- Language
- Turkish
- Level
- B2
- Unit
- Ad ve fiil öbekleri
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
Zarf-fiil yapıları in Turkish are verb forms that act like adverbs. They describe how, when, or why the main action happens. These are created by adding special suffixes to verbs.
When to use it
Use zarf-fiil forms to connect actions, show time, reason, or the way something is done. They help you make longer sentences by linking actions together.
Key forms
- -ken (gelirken)
- -ince/-ınca (bitirince)
- -dikçe/-dıkça (çalıştıkça)
- -meden/-madan (gitmeden)
- -ip (yazıp)
Examples
Yemek yapmadan önce ellerimi yıkarım.
English: I wash my hands before cooking.
Kitabı bitirince sana vereceğim.
English: I will give you the book when I finish it.
Koşup eve geldim.
English: I ran and came home.
Soru sordukça daha çok öğreniyorsun.
English: You learn more as you ask questions.
Tips
- Always add the zarf-fiil suffix to the verb stem, not to the noun.
- Do not use a subject for the zarf-fiil part; the subject is usually the same as the main verb.
- Some suffixes change depending on vowel harmony.
Exceptions and edge cases
- Some verbs may drop a letter or change form slightly when adding a zarf-fiil suffix.
- Not all verbs can take every zarf-fiil suffix naturally.