CONDITIONAL SENTENCES in TURKISH

CONDITIONAL
SENTENCES
in
TURKISH
YÜKSEL GÖKNEL
2013
CONDITIONAL SENTENCES in TURKISH
CONDITIONAL SENTENCES in TURKISH
There are two parts in a conditional sentence: “if clause” and the “main
clause”. In an “if clause”, the supposition is either real or unreal. These
real and unreal suppositions in Turkish are also classified according to their
times:
1 (a): present real supposition. 1(b): present unreal supposition. 2 (a):
past real supposition. 2 (b): past unreal supposition.
1 (a): If the supposition is real at present, “V - ♫[ir, ır, ür, ur, er, ar]♫[se, sa]-[pers]” verb composition is used in the condition part, and The
Simple Present (Geniş Zaman) is used in the result part of a conditional
sentence.
1 (b): If the supposition is unreal at present, “V-♫[se,sa]-[pers]” verb
structure is used in the condition part, and “used to” (Geniş Zaman’ın
Hikâyesi) is used in the result part of a conditional sentence.
2 (a): If the supposition is real in the past, “V-♫[di/y/, dı/y/, dü/y/, du/y/,
ti/y/, tı/y/, tü/y/, tu/y/]-♫[se, sa]-[pers]” is used in the condition part, and “V
- ♫ [miş, mış, müş, muş]- ♫ [tir, tır, tür, tur]” verb composition is used in the
result part of a conditional sentence.
2 (b): If the supposition is unreal in the past, “V -♫ [se/y/, sa/y/]-[di, dı][pers]” verb structure is used in the condition part, and “used to” (Şimdiki
Zaman’ın Hikâyesi) is used in the result part of a conditional sentence.
1 (a): PRESENT REAL SUPPOSITION
In the “if” parts, and in the result parts of conditional sentences in Turkish,
there may be two personal concepts. One of them is in the beginning as a
pronoun, and the other one in the end as a personal allomorph such as:
“Sen çalış-ır-sa-an”, and “sen başar-ır-sın”
In the example above, there are two pronouns “sen” and “sen”, and two
possessor personal allomorphs [an] and [sın], all of which mean “sen”.
(Sen) çalış-ır-sa-an / (sen) başar-ır-sın.
This conditional sentence is like the English sentence “If you work, you
succeed”. In the first part, “sen” means “you”, the “[sa] allomorph means “if”.
The [ir] allomorph is The Simple Present allomorph, and the [an] allomorph
also means “sen”. In the result part of this conditional sentence, as in the
condition part, there are two “you” concepts: “you” and [sın], which mean the
same thing. Therefore, the personal pronouns in the beginnings of the two
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CONDITIONAL SENTENCES in TURKISH
parts of a conditional sentence may be ignored unless they are intentionally
stressed.
(Sen) çalış-ır-sa-an (sen) başar-ır-sın.
(ça*lı*şır*san / ba*şa*rır*sın ↷ ) If you work, you succeed.
The same rule is applied to all conditional sentences in Turkish. Clauses
like English clauses are used only in conditional sentences in Turkish.
Consider the following:
Ben çalış-ır-sa-am ben başar-ır-ım. (ça*lı*şır*sam / ba*şa*rı*rım ↷)
Sen çalış-ır-sa-an sen başar-ır-sın. (ça*lı*şır*san / ba*şa*rır*sın ↷)
O çalış-ır-sa o başar-ır. (ça*lı*şır*sa / ba*şa*rır ↷)
Ahmet çalış-ır-sa Ahmet başar-ır. (ah*met / ça*lı*şır*sa / ba*şa*rır ↷)
Biz çalış-ır-sa-ak biz başar-ır-ız. (ça*lı*şır*sak / ba*şa*rı*rız ↷)
Siz çalış-ır-sa-an.ız siz başar-ır-sın.ız. (ça*lı*şır*sa*nız / ba*şa*rır*sı*nız ↷)
Onlar çalış-ır-lar-sa onlar başar-ır-lar. (ça*lı*şır*lar*sa / ba*şa*rır*lar ↷)
However, the English equivalents of the conditional sentences above are as
follows:
I will succeed if I work,
You will succeed if you work.
He will succeed if he works, etc.
Follow the examplas:
(biz)
|
|
NP
yağmur yağ-ar-sa
ev-de
otur-ur-uz.
|
|
adverb clause of cond adverbial
VP
|
V
(yağ*mur / ya*ğar*sa ~ / ev*de / o*tu*ru*ruz ↷)
If it rains, we will stay at home. We will stay at home if it rains.
(Sen) çalış-ır-sa-an (sen) sınav-ı geç-er-/s/in.
(ça*lı*şır*san ~ / sı*na*vı / ge*çer*sin ↷)
If you study, you will pass the exam.
(Sen) çok çalış-ır-sa-an (sen) başar-a-bil-ir-sin.
(çok / ça*lı*şır*san ~ / ba*şa*ra*bi*lir*sin ↷)
If you work hard, you can succeed.
(Sen) onu düşür-ür-se-en (o) kır-ıl-ır.
(o*nu / dü*şü*rür*sen ~ / kı*rı*lır ↷)
If you drop it, it will break.
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CONDITIONAL SENTENCES in TURKISH
(Sen) onu tekrar yap-ar-sa-an (sen) tokat-ı yer-sin.
(o*nu / tek*rar / ya*par*san ~ / to*ka*dı / yer*sin ↷)
If you do that again, you'll be slapped.
(Sen) bulaşık-lar-ı yıka-ar-sa-an (ben) sana ev ödev-i/n/-de yardım et-er-im.
(bu*la*şık*la*rı / yı*kar*san ~/ sa*na / ev / ö*de*vin*de / yar*dım /
e*de*rim↷) If you wash the dishes, I will help you with your homework.
(Sen) dikkat-li sür-er-se-en (sen) kaza yap-maz-sın.
(dik*kat*li / sü*rer*sen~ / ka*za: / yap*maz*sın ↷)
If you drive carefully, you won’t have an accident.
(Sen) hazır-sa-an (biz) dışarı çık-a-bil-ir-iz.
(ha*zır*san~ / dı*şa*rı / çı*ka*bi*li*riz ↷)
We can go out if you are ready.
(Sen) seyret-me-i.yor-sa-an (sen) televizyon-u kapat.
(sey*ret*mi*yor*san ~/ te*le*viz*yo*nu / ka*pat ↷)
Turn it off if you are not watching television.
(Onlar) gel-ir-ler-se (biz) memnun ol-ur-uz.
(on*lar / ge*lir*ler*se ~/ mem*nun / o*lu*ruz ↷)
We will be happy if they come.
(In the third person plural [se] and [ler] allomorphs change places.)
(Sen) bu düğme-/y/e bas-ar-sa-an asansör aşağı gel-ir.
(bu / düğ*me*ye / ba*sar*san ~ / a*san*sör / a*şa*ğı / ge*lir ↷)
If you press this button, the elevator will come down.
Öğretmen bana bak-ar-sa onun bana bir soru sor-a.cak-ı-/n/ı tahmin et-er-im.
(öğ*ret*men / ba*na / ba*kar*sa~ / o*nun / ba*na / bir / so*ru / so*ra*ca*ğı*nı / tah*min / e*de*rim ↷)
If the teacher looks at me, I can guess that he is going to ask me a question.
Sokak-lar ıslak-sa dün gece yağmur yağ-mış-tır.
(so*kak*lar / ıs*lak*sa ~/ dün / ge*ce / yağ*mur / yağ*mış*tır ↷)
If the streets are wet, it must have rained last night.
(I’m sure it rained last night because the streets are wet.)
(Sen) (kendin-i) yorgun hisset-i.yor-sa-an, (sen) dün gece geç yat-mış-sındır. (yor*gun / his*se*di*yor*san~ / dün / ge*ce / geç / yat*mış*sın*dır ↷)
If you feel tired, you must have gone to bed late last night.
(I am sure you went to bed late, that is why you are tired now.)
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CONDITIONAL SENTENCES in TURKISH
(Sen) biraz İngilizce bil-i.yor-sa-an, (sen) bu cümle-ler-i anla-mış-sın-dır.
(bi*raz / in*gi*liz*ce / bi*li*yor*san ~/ bu / cüm*le*le*ri / an*la*mış*sın*dır ↷)
If you know some English, you must have understood these sentences.
In English, there are some conditional sentences whose both parts are
simple Present Tense. These sentences are formed in Turkish as follows:
(Sen) buz-u ısıt-ır-sa-an (o) su-/y/a dönüş-ür.
(bu*zu / ı*sı*tır*san ~ / su*ya / dö*nü*şür ↷)
If you heat ice, it turns to water.
(Biz) aç-sa-ak (biz) birsey yer-iz.
(aç*sak~ / bir*sey / ye*riz ↷)
If we are hungry, we eat something.
(Biz) yourul-ur-sa-ak (biz) dinlen-ir-iz.
(yo*ru*lur*sak ~ / din*le*ni*riz ↷)
If we get tired, we rest.
1 (b): PRESENT UNREAL (CONTRARY TO FACT) SUPPOSITION
In the present unreal supposition, the “V - ♫ [se, sa] - [pers]” verb chain is
used in the condition part, and "used to" (şimdiki zaman'ın hikâyesi) is used
in the second part of a conditional sentence:
(O) kapı-/y/ı (O) ev-de ol-sa
|
|
|
|
NP
NP
adv clause of cond
VP
aç-ar-dı.
|
V
(o / ka*pı*yı / ev*de / ol*sa ~ / a*çar*dı ↷)
If he were at home, he would open the door. (He is not at home now.)
(Ben) cevap-ı bil-se-em (ben) sana söyle-er-di-im.
(ce*va:*bı / bil*sem ~/sa*na / söy*ler*dim ↷)
If I knew the answer, I would tell you. (I don't know the answer.)
(Ben) sen-in yer-in-de ol-sa-am (ben) böyle davran-maz-dı-ım.
(se*nin / ye*rin*de / ol*sam ~ / böy*le / dav*ran*maz*dım ↷)
If I were you, I wouldn’t behave like that. (advice)
(Ben) (benim) yap-a.cak bir sürü iş-im ol-ma-sa (ben) sen-in-le dışarıya çıkar-dı-ım. (ya*pa*cak / bir*sü*rü / i*şim / ol*ma*sa ~/ se*nin*le / dı*şa*rı*ya /
çı*kar*dım↷) If I didn’t have a lot of things to do, I would go out with you.
(Sorry, I have a lot of things to do.)
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CONDITIONAL SENTENCES in TURKISH
(Ben) (sen-in) baba-an-ın yer-i/n/-de ol-sa-am, (ben) (sen-in) araba kullanma-an-a izin ver-mez-di-im. (ba*ba*nın / ye*rin*de / ol*sam ~ / a*ra*ba /
kul*lan*ma*na / i*zin / ver*mez*dim↷) If I were your father, I wouldn’t let
you drive ↷)
The present unreal suppositions can also be used to express future
disappointment:
Yarın tatil ol-sa piknik-e git-er-di-ik.
(ya*rın / ta:*til / ol*sa ~/ pik*ni*ğe / gi*der*dik ↷)
If tomorrow were a holiday, we would go for a picnic.
2 (a): PAST REAL SUPPOSITION
In the past real supposition, the “if clause” is supposed to be “true” and the
main clause is based on this true supposition. The structure of this type if
clause is “V-♫ [di/y/, dı/y/, dü/y/, du/y/, ti/y/, tı/y/, tü/y/, tu/y/]-♫[se, sa][pers]”. The main clause is in The Simple Past form:
Paris’e git-ti-/y/se (o) Eyfel Kulesi’/n/i gör-dü.
adverb clause of cond NP
NP (object)
V
If we want to add certainty to the result part of the conditional sentence
above, we use “verb-[miş, mış, müş, muş]-♫[tir, tır, tür, tur] verb composition:
Paris’e git-ti/y/-se, Eyfel Kulesi’/n/i gör-müş-tür.
(pa*ri*se / git*tiy*se ~ / ey*fel / ku*le*si*ni / gör*müş*tür ↷)
If he went to Paris, he must have seen the Eiffel Tower.
(I think he went to Paris, and certainly he saw The Eiffel Tower.)
Yeter-in.ce çok çalış-tı/y/-sa, başar-mış-tır.
(ye*te*rin*ce / ça*lış*tıy*sa / ba*şar*mış*tır ↷)
If he worked hard enough, he must have succeeded.
(I believe he worked hard enough, and consequently he succeeded.)
Söyle-dik-ler-i doğru idi/y/-se, cezalandır-ıl-mış ol.a.maz.
(söy*le*dik*le*ri / doğ*ru / i*diy*se ~ / ce*za:*lan*dı*rıl*mış / o*la*maz ↷)
If what he said was true, he can’t have been punished.
Kafes-i açık bırak-tı/y/-sa-an, kuş uç-up git-miş-tir.
(ka*fe*si / a*çık / bı*rak*tıy*san ~ / kuş / u*çup / git*miş*tir ↷)
If you left the cage open, the bird must have flown away.
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CONDITIONAL SENTENCES in TURKISH
İş-i-/n/i bitir-di/y/-se ev-e git-miş-tir.
(i*şi*ni / bi*tir*diy*se / e*ve / git*miş*tir ↷)
If he finished his work, he must have gone home.
O-/n/un araba-/s/ı var-sa Bodrum-a git-miş-tir.
(a*ra*ba*sı / var*sa / bod*du*ma / git*miş*tir ↷)
If he had a car, he must have gone to Bodrum.
2 (b): PAST UNREAL (CONTRARY TO FACT) SUPPOSITION
To form an unreal past supposition, “V-[se/y/-di, sa/y/-dı]-[pers]” verb chain
is used in the if part of a conditional sentence, and the (Şimdiki Zaman'ın
Hikâyesi) “used to” is used in the second part of it. Compare the following:
(Sen) kapı-/y/ı çaldık-ın-da (o) ev-de ol-sa/y/-dı (o) (kapı-/y/ı) aç-ar-dı.
adverbial clause of condition
NP
(obj) NP
V
(ka*pı*yı / çal*dı*ğın*da / ev*de / ol*say*dı ~ / a*çar*dı ↷)
If he had been at home when you knocked at the door, he would have
opened it. (He was not at home, so he didn’t open the door.)
Yarın tatil ol-sa sinema-/y/a git-er-di-ik.
(ya*rın / ta:*til / ol*sa ~/ si*ne*ma*ya / gi*der*dik ↷)
If tomorrow were a holiday, we would go to the cinema. (unreal)
Bugün tatil ol-sa sinema-/y/a git-er-di-ik.
(bu*gün / ta:*til /ol*sa ~/ si*ne*ma*ya / gi*der*dik ↷)
If today were a holiday, we would go to the cinema. (unreal)
Dün tatil ol-sa/y/-dı sinema-/y/a git-er-di-ik.
(dün / ta:*til / ol*say*dı~ / si*ne*ma*ya / gi*der*dik ↷) (unreal)
If yesterday had been a holiday, we would have gone to the cinema.
(Yesterday was not a holiday, so we didn’t go.)
Dün onu gör-se/y/-di-im, onunla konuş-ur-du-um.
(dün / o*nu / gör*sey*dim / o*nun*la / ko*nu*şur*dum ↷)
If I had seen him yesterday, I would have talked to him.
(I didn’t see him, so I didn’t talk to him.)
Kafes-i açık bırak-ma-sa/y/-dı-ın, kuş uç-up git-mez-di.
(ka*fe*si / a*çık / bı*rak*ma*say*dın ~ / kuş / u*çup / git*mez*di ↷)
If you hadn’t left the cage open, the bird wouldn’t have flown away.
(You left the cage open, so the bird flew away.)
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CONDITIONAL SENTENCES in TURKISH
Birkaç tane daha problem çöz-se/y/-di-im, daha iyi bir not al-ır-dı-ım.
(bir*kaç / ta:*ne / da*ha / prob*lem / çöz*sey*dim~/ da*ha / i*yi / bir / not /
a*lır*dım ↷)
If I had solved a few more problems, I would have got a better grade.
(I couldn’t solve some more problems, and so I couldn’t get a better grade.)
Çabucak dur-ma-sa/y/-dı-ım, adam fena halde yara-lan-a.bil-ir-di.
(ça*bu*cak / dur*ma*say*dım~ / a*dam / fe*na: / hal*de / ya*ra*la*na*bi*lir*di ↷)
If I hadn’t stopped suddenly, the man might have been badly injured.
Biz-im kaleci daha dikkat-li oyna-sa/y-/dı, maç-ı kaybet-mez-di-ik.
(bi*zim / ka*le*ci ~/ da*ha / dik*kat*li / oy*na*say*dı ~ / ma*çı /
kay*bet*mez*dik ↷)
If our goalkeeper had played more carefully, we wouldn’t have lost the
match. (I regret to say that we lost it.)
O araba o kadar pahalı ol-ma-sa/y/-dı, onu (satın) al-ır-dı-ım.
(o / a*ra*ba / o / ka*dar / pa*ha*lı / ol*ma*say*dı ~/ o*nu / a*lır*dım ↷)
If that car hadn’t been so expensive, I would have bought it.
İsviçre’de o kadar çok sağanak-a yakalan-ma-sa/y/-dı-ık, muhteşem
manzara-/n/ın zevkı-/n/e var-ır-dı-ık.
(is*viç*re*de / o / ka*dar / çok / sa*ğa*na*ğa / ya*ka*lan*ma*say*dık ~/
muh*te*şem / man*za*ra*nın / zev*kı*ne / va*rır*dık ↷)
If we hadn’t had so many thunderstorms in Switzerland, we would have enjoyed the wonderful scenery.
İste-se/y/-di gel-ir-di.
(is*te*sey*di / ge*lir*di )
If he had wanted, he would have come.
Sometimes the “if” part of a conditional sentence may begin with an unreal
past supposition, but the main clause ends with an unreal present tense:
Dün bitir-se/y/-di-in, bugün onlar-ı postala-/y/a-bil-ir/di-ik.
(dün / bi*tir*sey*din~ / bu*gün / on*la*rı / pos*ta*la*ya*bi*lir*dik ↷)
If you had finished yesterday, we could post them today.
Note: This document is a section of my book titled "TURKISH GRAMMAR
UPDATED ACADEMIC EDITION YUKSEL GOKNEL May 2013". If you wish
to download and read this book free, you could find it on the internet.
Yüksel Göknel
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