-(y)ince (when)

-(y)ince is a suffix which means “at the time” or “in the event that” and corresponds in meaning to
English when. It can be added to verbs only.

Structure:

after e or i : -(y)ince gelince

after a or ı : -(y)ınca alınca
after o or u : -(y)unca sorunca
after ö or ü : -(y)ünce gülünce

1- -(y)ince is added directly to the stem of the verb and cannot combine with personal endings.
However, the meaning of the subordinate clause is determined by the tense marker in the main
clause.

a) Öğretmen sınıfa girince öğrenciler susar.

Subordinate clause Main Clause

(The students stop talking when the teacher enters the classroom.)

b) Öğretmen sınıfa girince öğrenciler sustu.

Subordinate clause Main Clause

(The students stopped talking when the teacher entered the classroom.)

Note that the subordinate clause in both (a) and (b) is in the same form. However, while (a) translates as
when the teacher enters the classroom, (b) translates as when the teacher entered the classroom. The
difference is caused by the different tense in the main clause –present simple tense in (a) but past
continuous tense in (b). Follow more examples below:

Parti başlayınca elektrik kesildi.

(When the party started, the electricity went off.)

Film bitince seni arayacağım.

(I will call you when the film finishes.)

Babam uyanınca saat sekizdi.

It was 8 o’clock when my father woke up.

Bahar gelince karlar eridi.

(The snow melted when spring came.)

Zil çalınca öğrenciler bahçeye çıktılar.

(The students went out to the garden when the bell rang.)

2- -(y)ince can sometimes be used interchangeably with –diğinde or –dığı zaman which also mean
‘when’:

Araba bozulunca yardım çağırdık.

Araba bozulduğunda yardım çağırdık.
Araba bozulduğu zaman yardım çağırdık.
(We called for help when the car broke down.)
Copyright © Yusuf Buz No part of this publication may be reproduced!
www.onlineturkishcourse.com