When, after, despite: the link sits at the end of the first clause
One rule collects half the links. The first half of the sentence goes in front, and the link sits at its very end, on the verb. For example: “İşim bitince seni ararım” — When I finish work I will call you. A rule from the Turkish course: worked out on examples, not memorized as a wording.
How it works
One rule collects half the links. The first half of the sentence goes in front, and the link sits at its very end, on the verb.
Time. -ince is when, as soon as: İşim bitince seni ararım. -dikten sonra is after: yedikten sonra. -meden önce is before: çıkmadan önce. -ken is while: çalışırken. -alı is ever since: Buraya taşınalı iki yıl oldu.
There is no person in these forms, and nothing is missing. Who acts is said once, in the second half.
Concession is -e rağmen, despite: Yağmura rağmen yürüyüşe çıktık. The trap is the comma. The tail does not ask for one, while a separate word such as ama does.
Table
| the connector | the meaning | example | where it stands |
|---|---|---|---|
| -ince | when, as soon as | gelince | the end of the first clause |
| -dikten sonra | after | yedikten sonra | the end of the first clause |
| -meden önce | before | çıkmadan önce | the end of the first clause |
| -ken | while | çalışırken | the end of the first clause |
| -ir -mez | as soon as | gelir gelmez | the end of the first clause |
| -alı | ever since | taşınalı | the end of the first clause |
| -e rağmen / -dığı halde | despite the fact that | olmasına rağmen | the end of the first clause |
| gerçi … ama | although … yet | Gerçi zor, ama denerim | the start of both clauses |
By example
- İşim bitince seni ararımWhen I finish work I will call you
- Yağmura rağmen yürüyüşe çıktıkDespite the rain we went for a walk
- Buraya taşınalı iki yıl olduIt has been two years since we moved here
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
When, after, despite: how does it work in Turkish?
One rule collects half the links. The first half of the sentence goes in front, and the link sits at its very end, on the verb.
What does it look like in an example sentence Turkish?
“İşim bitince seni ararım” — When I finish work I will call you. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.