Build a time expression for an action in progress or a temporary state. You will choose the attached form and recognise why a form such as giderken contains an aorist ending.
The idea
After a consonant, attach -ken: çocukken, sıcakken. After a vowel, use -yken: öğrenciyken, evdeyken. The vowel stays e, even after back vowels; neither form becomes -kan. For the actions practised here, first form the aorist without a person ending, then add -ken: yapar → yaparken, okur → okurken. In giderken, the change from git- to gid- happens before the aorist vowel. Separate iken is also possible: öğrenci iken means the same as öğrenciyken. The ending itself does not mark past time; the main clause and context locate the situation in time.
| Starting form | Attached ending | Result |
|---|---|---|
| çocuk | -ken | çocukken |
| sıcak | -ken | sıcakken |
| öğrenci | -yken | öğrenciyken |
| evde | -yken | evdeyken |
| yapar | -ken | yaparken |
| okur | -ken | okurken |
| gider | -ken | giderken |
Examples
- Annem yemek yaparken ben masayı hazırlıyorum.While my mother is cooking, I am setting the table.
- Öğrenciyken babam bu sokakta yaşıyordu.When my father was a student, he lived on this street.
- Ben evdeyken kedim balkonda uyuyor.While I am at home, my cat sleeps on the balcony.
- Çorba sıcakken daha lezzetli.The soup is tastier while it is hot.
- yaparkenwhile doing / makingyapar-ir / -ar / -er: the aorist (gelir, yapar)ken-ken / -yken: while, when
- okurkenwhile readingokur-ir / -ar / -er: the aorist (gelir, yapar)ken-ken / -yken: while, when
- evdeykenwhile at homeevde-de / -da / -te / -ta: in, at, onyken-ken / -yken: while, when
- giderkenwhile going / on the waygider-ir / -ar / -er: the aorist (gelir, yapar)ken-ken / -yken: while, when
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Watch out
Do not carry the person ending into the time expression: use ben okurken, not okurumken. The two actions may have different subjects: in the first example, mother cooks and I set the table. Name the subjects when the context does not make them clear.
Try it yourself
Attach -ken to çocuk (child). Write one word: when a child.
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çocukken
çocukken: the final k is followed by another consonant, so it stays; the back vowel u does not change the fixed e. Write the attached expression as one word.
Attach -ken to öğrenci (student). Write one word: when a student.
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öğrenciyken
öğrenciyken: öğrenci ends in i, so the attached form needs y. The result describes the period of being a student, without adding a person ending.
Use okumak (read) to fill the blank: I take notes while reading a book. Write the missing word.
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okurken
okurken: start from oku- and add the aorist -r, then -ken. The pronoun ben identifies the reader; the reading overlaps with taking notes.
Use gitmek (go) to fill the blank: It started raining on the way to school. Write the missing word.
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giderken
giderken: the aorist of gitmek is gider, with d before -er. Adding -ken places the start of the rain during the journey to school, not after arrival.
Practice round
Answer questions, then rebuild Turkish sentences and words where available. We keep your score.
Attach -ken to çocuk (child). Write one word: when a child.
Attach -ken to öğrenci (student). Write one word: when a student.
Use okumak (read) to fill the blank: I take notes while reading a book. Write the missing word.
Use gitmek (go) to fill the blank: It started raining on the way to school. Write the missing word.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the parts in order to build this word: while doing / making
Tap the parts in order to build this word: while reading
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Write one sentence about what you do while reading, one about what someone else does while you are at home, and one about your student days. Circle each attached ending and identify the subject of each action.