GERUNDIVE FORMS
“BY DOING SOMETHING”
This page explains how to use the gerundive form and express "by doing something" or "while doing something".
This will help us to say for instance :
The teacher resolves the issue by inviting the children’s parents.
He lost weight by exercising every day.
I broke my leg playing football.
The following forms can convey this meaning:
(y)arak / (y)erek - y if the verb’s root ends with a vowel
-a -a / -e -e
-arken / -erken
-ARAK OR -EREK
| -(y)arak | if the verb's root ends with a hard vowel (a ı o u) |
| -(y)erek | if the verb's root ends with a soft vowel (e i ö ü) |
We use the verb’s root and we add the suffix (y)arak or (y)erek - y if it ends with a vowel.
This is independent of the personal pronoun - same spelling applies to every person.
This form can be translated by “by doing something“.
Örnek Cümleler - Examples :
Her gün üniversiteye yürüyerek gidiyor - Every day he goes to the university walking.
From the verb yürümek = to walk. Since the verb’s root yürü ends with a vowel, we add an y.
Aşçı, yemeği şarkı söyleyerek yapıyor - The cook prepares the meal while singing.
Boş zamanlarımı kitap okuyarak değerlendiriyorum - I spend my free time reading books.
Doktor üniversiteye çalışarak olabılırız - We can become doctor by studying at the university.
Atıklarınızı ayırarak topluma bir hizmet yapın - Do society a favor by sorting your wastes.
-A -A or -E -E form
| verb + (y)a + verb + (y)a | if the verb's root ends with a hard vowel (a ı o u) |
| verb + (y)e + verb + (y)e | if the verb's root ends with a soft vowel (e i ö ü) |
This form indicates how an action is performed and suggests that the action is carried out repeatedly.
It can be used interchangeably with the -arak form.
This form can be translated by “by doing something“.
Örnek Cümleler - Examples :
Öğrencilere ders vere vere güven kanzandı - He gained confidence by giving classes to students.
Esneliğini çalışa çalışa daha iyi bir jimnastikçi oldun - You became a better gymnast by working your flexibility.
Kurye müzik dineleye dineleye çalışıyor - The delivery man works while listening to music.
Sinavı gevezelik ete ete rahatsız ediyorlar - They disturb the class by chatting. To verify
-(Y)KEN form
This form is used to answer the question: when is the action performed.
This form can be translated by “while I was doing something“.
It can be used with 3 different forms:
with a name : name + -da + yken
with an adjective : adjective + (y)ken
with a verb : conjugated verb + (y)ken
Its mostly used with the present tense.
This form can be used with a verb conjugated at
the present : -arken, -ar being the suffix of the 3rd person
the future: -(y)acakken to mean “about to“
the present continous : -yorken
the past tense : -mişken to mean “meanwhile“
Every of its usage helps to answer the question: When does the action happen = Ne zaman ?
Örnek Cümleler - Examples with the present:
Ben spor yaparken müzik dinliyorum. I listen to music while doing sport.
Ne zaman müzik dinliyorum? Ben spor yaparken - When do I listen to music? While listening to music.
Ben eve giderken yağmur başladı - It started to rain while I went home.
Ne zaman yağmur başladı? Ben eve giderken - When did it start to rain ? While going home.
Futbol oynarken düştüm ve bacağım kırıldı - I felt and broke my leg while I was playing football.
Ne zaman düştüm ve bacağım kırıldı? Futbol oynarken - When did I fall and broke my leg ? While playing football.
Araba kullanırken lütfen cep telefonu ile konuşmayın - Please do not talk on the phone while driving.
Ne zaman cep telefonu ile konuşmayın? Araba kullanırken - When not talk on the phone ? While driving.
The future form: - (y)acakken means “about to”
Örnek Cümleler - Examples with the future tense:
Ben tam dışarı çıkacakken yağmur başladı. It started to rain while I was about to go outside. ??
Ne zaman yağmur başladı? Ben tam dışarı çıkacakken - When did it start to rain ? While I was just about to go outside.
Tam oturup televizyonu açacakken misafirler geldi. When I was about to sit down and switch the TV on, the guest arrived.
Ne zaman misafirler geldi ? Tam oturup televizyonu açacakken - When did the guests arrive? While I was just about to go sit down and switch on TV.
With the past tense: - (y)acakken it means “meanwhile”.
Örnek Cümleler - Examples with the past tense:
Markete gitmişken bana da çikolata alır mısın? - Meanwhile you go to the market, can you take me chocolate ?
Ne zaman bana çikolata alırsın? Markete gitmişken - When do you take me some chocolate ? Meanwhile you go to the market.