Turkish Verbs - the Past Tenses Turkish Past Definit Definitee Tenses Tenses Was it seen? or Was it heard? There are two Past Tenses in Turkish. The Definite Past Tenses ("Seen Tenses") Tenses") are used when you have personal knowledge and witness of the action. These Definite Past tenses are like the English: Past Perfect Tense Tense I I have made it Past Siple Tense Tense I I made it Past !perfect Tense (Past ontinuous) I ontinuous) I was making it Past Pluperfect Tense I Tense I had made it. The Sign of the Definite Past is the addition of the suffi# -di-/-ti-, -dı-/-tı-, -dü-/-tü-, -du-/-tu- according to $owel harony and onsonant %utation &ules' to which the P ersonal suffi#es are added. ontinuous Past: Geliyordum el*iyor*du+ I el*iyor*du+ I was coming Siple Past: Gelirdim el*ir*di+ I el*ir*di+ I used to come ,uture Past (,uture in the Past): Gelecektim el*ecek*ti+ I el*ecek*ti+ I was going to come Pluperfect (Past in the Past): Gelmitim el*i-*ti+ I el*i-*ti+ I had come The -mi suffi# here does not convey any inferential eaning in the Pluperfect Tense. ecessitative Past (/0ligation (/0ligation in the Past): Gelmeliydim I had to come onditional Past: Gelseydim el*se*ydi+ If el*se*ydi+ If only I had come 1ll these tenses are discussed in the ne#t pages.
!ormation of Definite Past Te Tenses nses The suffi#es -dı- -di- -du- -dü- or -tı- -ti- -tu- -tü- when added to ver0 root ending in " # k t . Personal suffi#es are added to coplete the ver0 in nu0er.The past tense suffi# follow vowel harony and consonant utation rules.
Turkish Definite Past $on%u&ation
'-Verb (tem
)-Verb (tem
&eldim *&el-di-m+
I came
anladım *anla-dı-m+
I understood
&eldin *&el-di-n+
you came
anladın *anla-dı-n+
you understood
*o+ &eldi *&el-di+
he/she/it came
*o+ anladı *anla-dı+
he understood
&eldik *&el-di-k+
we came
anladık *anla-dı-k+
we understood
&eldini *&el-di-ni+
you came
anladını *anla-dı-nı+
you understood
&eldiler *&el-di-ler+
they came
anladılar *anla-dı-lar+
-Verb (tem
they understood
.-Verb (tem
i#tim *i#-ti-m+
I drank/smoked
#ıktım *#ık-tı-m+
I went out
i#tin
you drank/smoked
#ıktın
you went out
*o+ i#ti
he drank/smoked
*o+ #ıktı
he went out
i#tik
we drank/smoked
#ıktık
we went out
i#tini
you drank/smoked
#ıktını
you went out
i#tiler
they drank/smoked
#ıktılar
they went out
-Verb (tem
0-Verb (tem
&1rdüm *&1r-dü-m+
I saw
kotum *ko-tu-m+
I ran
&1rdün
you saw
kotun
you ran
*o+ &1rdü
he/she/it saw
*o+ kotu
he ran
&1rdük
we saw
kotuk
we ran
&1rdünü
you saw
kotunu
you ran
&1rdüler
they saw
kotular
they ran
2-Verb (tem
3-Verb (tem
&üldüm *&ül-dü-m+
I laughed
buldum *bul-du-m+
I found
&üldün
you laughed
buldun
you found
*o+ &üldü
he/she/it laughed
*o+ buldu
he found
&üldük
we laughed
bulduk
we found
&üldünü
you laughed
buldunu
you found
&üldüler
they laughed
buldular
they found
!ormation of .ndefinite *.nferential+ Past Tenses The !ndefinite Past Tenses ("heard tenses") are used' 0y inference' to transfer inforation that you have not actually seen and witnessed yourself. There is no !nferential Tensein English' not any languages have one. The idea of inference is counicated 0y other ways. English speakers do this autoatically and 2ust a few of the wa ys are as follow: I think that I went out dou0t+ Presumably you have left possi0ility+ He has left as far as I know reportative+ I think that we left at uncertainty+ They say that you went out hearsay+ Its pretty sure that they have left pro0a0ility+ 1ll the e#aples a0ove show that this tense is used whenever the speaker has not 0een an eyewitness to the past events. The !nferential Tense used for reporting unwitnessed events' or iplying possi0ility' dou0t or uncertainty. !t is often used in telling 2okes and stories. The Sign of the !ndefinite (!nferential) Past is the addition of the suffi# -mi- -mı- -mü- -mu- to which the past tense personal suffi#es are added. ontinuous !nferential: Geliyormuum el*iyor*u-*u+ It seems (they say) I am coming. ,uture !nferential: Gelecekmiim4 el*ecek*i-*i+ It seems I shall come Siple !nferential: Gelirmiim4 el*ir*i-*i+ It seems I come. ecessitative !nferential: Gelmeliymiim4 el*eli*yi-*i+ They say I must have come. The for "it sees3" gives the sense of inference in these e#aples 0y showing that there is a dou0t in what is 0eing stated. There are any ways of odifying speech in English to show these various nuances of dou0t' uncertainty or hearsay. 1ll these odifications and nuances are inher ent in the turkish inferential -mi- tense itself. E#tra words of e#planation are not re4uired for clarification purposes. !n English this tense can 0e translated as: I believe that he went out. e think that he has arrived. Presumably the train will be on time. 1ll showing soe uncertainty or lack of prior knowledge. This tense is widely used on a daily basis in spoken and written Turkish. It is used all the time in daily conversation. English shows shades of eaning using e#ra words:
#ıkmıım4 I think that I went out. dou0t+ #ıkmısın4 Presumably you have left. possi0ility+ #ıkmı4 He has left as far as I know. reportative+ #ıkmıı4 I think that we left at! uncertainty+ #ıkmısını4 They say that you went ou t. hearsay+
#ıkmılar4 Its pretty sure that they have left pro0a0ility+ The inferential is used whenever the speaker has doun0t a0out the events. 1s a 4uestion: 5ehmet #ıktı mı? Has "ehmet gone out# Past definite answer: 0 #ıktı4 He has gone out. eaning $es he has gone out for sure ! saw hi go.+ Past inferential (indefinite) answer: 0 #ıkmı4 He has gone out. eaning %s far as I know he has left. This "dou0t" within the -mi inferential tense itself.
Turkish .nterential 6e&ati7e !orms '8am"les of the 6e&ati7e Verb ya"mamak to not do !n Turkish &I think that!& is not re4uired in Turkish' the inferential -mi Tense already says it.
9en ya"mamıım ki4 (I think that) ! did not do it. (en ya"mamısın ki4 (They say that) 5ou did not do it. 0 ya"mamı ki4 (It seems that) 6e did not do it. 9i ya"mamıı ki4 (They say that) 7e did not do it. (i ya"mamısını ki4 (It is reported that) 5ou did not do it. 0nlar ya"mamılar ki4 (%pparently) They did not do it. (but they might have). ki is an o02ect it/that to coplete the sentence.
Turkish .nferential :uestion !orms The interrogative particle -mi follows the ver0 and is written separately together with the relevant personal pronoun:
0nu ya"mı mıyım? Have I done it ! wonder+8 'id I do it !9 not sure+8 0nu ya"mı mısın? Have you done it at all+8 'id you do it anyrate+8 0nu ya"mı mı? Has he done it then+8 'id he do it yet+8 0nu ya"mı mıyı? Have we done it ! wonder+8 'id we do it !9 not sure+8 0nu ya"mı mısını? Have you done it at all+8 'id you do it anyrate+8 0nu ya"mılar mı? Have they done it surely+8 'id they do it yet+8 0nu ya"mamı mıyım? Havent I done it ! wonder+8 'idnt I do it !9 not sure3+8 0nu ya"mamı mısın?* Havent you done it at all+8 'idnt you do it anyrate+8 0nu ya"mamı mı?* Hasnt he done it then+8 'idnt he do it yet+8 0nu ya"mamı mıyı? Havent we done it ! wonder+8 'idnt we do it !9 not sure+8 0nu ya"mamı mısını? Havent you done it at all+8 'idnt you do it anyrate+8 0nu ya"mamılar mı?* Havent they done it surely+8 'idnt they do it yet+8 ;ıkmı mi? Has he (seemingly) left# would you know8 possi0ility.+ Gülmüler mi ? 'id they laugh# (at all#) a 4uestion asking for a report.+ 0nu ya"mamı mısını? Havent you done it# at all8 uncertainty.+ 0nu ya"mamı mısını? $ou havent (gone and) done it have you# dou0t and incredulity+ The Tense Sign suffi# -mi-, -mı-, -mü-, -mu- and the personal ending are added to the ver0 ste' in all cases $owel harony and onsonant %utation rules are applied.
Turkish .ndefinite Past $on%u&ation
'-Verb (tem
)-Verb (tem
&elmiim *&el-mi-im+
I have come
anlamıım *anla-mı-ım+
I have understood
&elmisin *&el-mi-sin+
you have come
anlamısın *anla-mı-sın+
you have understood
*o+ &elmi *&el-mi+
he/she/it has come
*o+ anlamı *anla-mı+
he have understood
&elmii *&el-mi-i+
we have come
anlamıı *anla-mı-ı+
we have understood
&elmisini *&el-mi-sini+
you have come
anlamısını *anla-mı-sını+
you have understood
&elmiler *&el-mi-ler+
they have come
anlamılar *anla-mı-lar+
they have understood
-Verb (tem
.-Verb (tem
i#miim *i#-mi-im+
I have drunk/smoked
#ıkmıım *#ık-mı-ım+
I have gone out
i#misin
you have drunk/smoked
#ıkmısın
you have gone out
*o+ i#mi
he has drunk/smoked
*o+ #ıkmı
he have gone out
i#mii
we have drunk/smoked
#ıkmıı
we have gone out
i#misini
you have drunk/smoked
#ıkmısını
you have gone out
i#miler
they have drunk/smoked
#ıkmılar
they have gone out
-Verb (tem
0-Verb (tem
&1rmüüm *&1r-mü-üm+
I have seen
komuum *ko-mu-um+
I have run
&1rmüsün
you have seen
komusun
you have run
*o+ &1rmü
he/she/it have seen
*o+ komu
he have run
&1rmüü
we have seen
komuu
we have run
&1rmüsünü
you have seen
komusunu
you have run
&1rmüler
they have seen
komular
they have run
2-Verb (tem
3-Verb (tem
&ülmüüm *&ül-mü-üm+
I have laughed
bulmuum *bul-mu-um+
I have found
&ülmüsün
you have laughed
bulmusun
you have found
*o+ &ülmü
he/she/it have laughed
*o+ bulmu
he have found
&ülmüü
we have laughed
bulmuu
we have found
&ülmüsünü
you have laughed
bulmusunu
you have found
&ülmüler
they have laughed
bulmular
they have found
Turkish 6e&ati7e Past Tenses ,or the Perfect Past Tense Definite *(een+ the suffi# -dı-, -di-, -du-, -dü- is added to the negative ver0 for. ,or thePerfect Past Tense .ndefinite *
Turkish Past 6e&ati7e $on%u&ation
Past Definite
Past .nferential
anlamadım
I didnt understand/have not understood
anlamamıım
I did not understand (it seems)
anlamadın
you didnt understand
anlamamısın
you did not understand
*o+ anlamadı
he she it didnt understand
*o+ anlamamı
he did not understand
anlamadık
we didnt understand / we have n ot understood
anlamamıı
we did not understand
anlamadını
you didnt understand / you have not understood
anlamamısını
you did not understand
anlamadılar
they dont understand / they have not understood
anlamamılar
Past Definite
they did not understand
Past .nferential
&itmedim
I didnt go
&itmemiim
I have not gone (it seems)
&itmedin
you didnt go
&itmemisin
you did not go
*o+ &itmedi
he she it didnt go
*o+ &itmemi
he did not go
&itmedik
we didnt go
&itmemii
we did not go
&itmedini
you didnt go
&itmemisini
you did not go
&itmediler
they dont go
&itmemiler
they did not go
) Turkish =oke in the .nferential Tense (ınıfta 1>retmen sormu - Dalda ü# kus 7ar, birini 7urdum ka# tane kalır? !n class a teacher asked "There were three 0irds on a 0ranch' ! hit one how any are left8"
;ocuk ce7a"lamı - retmenim4 1 child answered "one at all reained' sir"
- 0lur mu o>lum? - demi 1>retmen - tane kalır4 "&eally' y lad8" said the teacher "Two of the reain."
0lma 1>retmenim - demi #ocuk - (i birini 7urunca di>erleri a"tal de>il ya sesten ürkü" ka#arlar444 "o way' sir" said the child "7hen you hit one of the' the others not 0eing fools' were s tartled 0y the sound and f lew off.."
>retmen sasırmı 7e - )ferin o>lum@ $e7abin yanlı ama düünce tarını be>endim4 - demi. The teacher was surprised an d "7ell done' y lad;" 5our answer is wrong 0ut ! like your style." he said
(onra #ocuk - >retmenim, ben de sie bir ey sormak istiyorumA Barsıdan ü# tane bayan &eliyor, ü#ü de dondurma yiyor, ama biri yalayarak, biri ısırarak, di>eri de emerek yiyor dondurmayı4 (ice bunlardan han&isi e7lidir? Then the child said "Sir' ! want to ask you soething: There are three ladies coing opposite and they are eating ice crea' 0ut one is licking' one eating and on sucking the ice crea. 7hich one do you think is arried8"
>retmen kımı ama, ce7a" 7eremedi dedirtmemek i#in belli etmemi - Calarak yiyen e7lidir -demi. The teacher got angry 0ut not to show that he could not answer "The one licking is arried" he said.
;ocuk - 0lur mu 1>retmenim ne alakası 7ar, "arma>ında yüük olan e7lidir - demi - )ma düünce tarınıı be>endim4 The child "&eally sir8 7hat a thing to say' the one with the r ing on her finger is arried" he said "
Turkish Definite Past $ontinuous Tense *&ramA im"erfect+ ,oration is: ver0 ste > present tense suffi# *iyor*+ > past tense suffi# * di*+ > personal ending. 1ll these eanings are witnessed. The ust 0e construed as "true".
Turkish Definite Past $ontinuous
Positi7e
6e&ati7e
gelmek
gitmemek
&eliyordum &el-iyor-du-mE
I was coming
&itmiyordum &itm-iyor-du-mE
I wasnt going
&eliyordun
you were coming
&itmiyordun
you werent going
*o+ &eliyordu
he/she/it was coming
*o+ &itmiyordu
he/she/it wasnt going
&eliyorduk
we were coming
&itmiyorduk
we werent going
&eliyordunu
you were coming
&itmiyordunu
you werent going
&eliyorlardı or &eliyordular
they were coming
&itmiyorlardı or &itmiyordular
they werent going
Turkish .ndefinite Past $ontinuous Tense ,oration is: ver0 ste > present tense suffi# *iyor*+ > past tense suffi# * i-*+ > personal ending. 1ll the eanings ust 0e construed as "hearsay". They ay or ay not 0e true.
Turkish .ndefinite Past $ontinuous
Positi7e
bilmek
6e&ati7e
okumamak
biliyormuum bil-iyor-mu-umE
(it seems) I was knowing
okumuyormuum okum-uyor-muumE
(it seems) I wasnt reading
biliyormusun
you were knowing
okumuyormusun
you werent reading
*o+ biliyormu
he/she/it was knowing
*o+ okumuyormu
he/she/it wasnt reading
biliyormuu
we were knowing
okumuyormuu
we werent reading
biliyormusunu
you were knowing
okumuyormusunu
you werent reading
biliyorlarmı or &eliyormular
they were knowing
okumuyorlarmı or okumuyormular
they werent reading
'8am"les of .ndefinite Past/Present $ontinuous Tense 6e&ati7e *
Turkish Past $ontinuous Tense .nterro&ati7e Positi7e as I going# ere you crying# as he waiting# ere we arranging# ere you saying# re they selling# The ver0 ste is suffi#ed with -iyor plus he past tense personalised 4uestion tags which are written separately. The third person plural is suffi#ed with -iyorlar •
Positi7e .nterro&ati7e '8am"lesA
•
beklemek to wait e*pect
•
bekliyor muydum? as I waiting#
•
bekliyor muydun?
•
bekliyor muydu?
•
bekliyor muyduk?
•
bekliyor muydunu?
•
bekliyorlar mıydı?
•
•
&itmek to to
•
&idiyor muydum? as I going#
•
&idiyor muydun?
•
&idiyor muydu?
•
&idiyor muyduk?
•
&idiyor muydunu?
•
&idiyorlar mıydı?
Turkish Past $ontinuous Tense .nterro&ati7e 6e&ati7e The past tense 4uestion tags ar e written separately. •
6e&ati7e .nterro&ati7e '8am"leA
•
&itmiyor muydum? asnt I going#
•
a>lamıyor muydun? erent you crying#
•
beklemiyor muydu? erent you waiting#
•
to"lamıyor muyduk? erent we arranging#
•
s1ylemiyor muydunu? erent you saying#
•
satmıyorlar mıydı? erent they selling#
Definite -di and .ndefinite -mi Past Tense '8am"les
Turkish
'n&lish
Positi7e Definite
Positi7e .ndefinite
6e&ati7e Definite
6e&ati7e .ndefinite
almak
to take
aldı
al?-
almadı
ala?-
aramak
to look for
aradı
ara?-
aramadı
araa?-
bitmek
to end
bitti
0iti-
bitmedi
0itei-
i#mek
to drink/smoke
i#ti
i@i-
i#medi
i@ei-
balamak
to start
baladı
0a-la?-
balamadı
0a-laa?-
#alımak
to work
#alıtı
@al?-?-
#alımadı
@al?-a?-
&elmek
to come
&eldi
geli-
&elmedi
gelei-
&1rmek
to see
&1rdü
gArB-
&1rmedi
gArei-
&ülmek
to laugh
&üldü
gBlB-
&ülmedi
gBlei-
kımak
to get angry
kıdı
k??-
kımadı
k?a?-
okumak
to read
okudu
okuu-
okumadı
okua?-
7ermek
to give
7erdi
veri-
7ermedi
verei-
ya"mak
to do/make
ya"tı
yap?-
ya"madı
yapa?-
'8am"les of :uestions in the Definite Past Tenses ote that the mi? 4uestion particle follows the full ver0 in the Past Tense.
0kula &ittin mi? 'id you go to school# Eng: 6ave you 0een to school8+ 0kula &itmeli miydin? 'id you have go to school# Eng: Did you have to go to school8+ )ye ders #alıtı mı? Has %yshe done her lesson# 5ehmet tele7iyon seyrediyor muydu? as "ehmet watching television# 5ehmet tele7iyonu seyrediyor muydu? as "ehmet watching TH+ television# Bemal &aete okudu mu? 'id ,emal read a newspaper# unspecified o02ect+ Bemal &aeteyi okudu mu? 'id ,emal read THE newspaper# specified o02ect+ Bemal bu &aeteyi okudu mu? 'id ,emal read THIS newspaper# deonstrated specific o02ect+ (erhan i#ki i#ti mi? 'id -erhan drink alcohol# i#ki C alcoholic drink + (erhan i#ki i#iyor muydu? as -erhan drinking alcohol# !aruk )nkaraFya &itti mi? Has aruk gone %nkara# !aruk )nkaraFya &idebildi mi? as aruk able to go %nkara#
Turkish Past Definite Perfect Tense $on%u&ation "I had written" The Past Perfect Definite is fored 0y adding the Definite past tense suffi# to the P ast Tense -mi for of the ver0. There is no hearsay or dou0t in the eaning of this tense as it is ade definite and specific 0y the addition of the past definite suffi# in -di4 This tense signifies the definite Past in The Past. &I had done it.&
•
Definite Past Perfect
•
&elmitim geli-*ti+ I had come
•
unutmutun unutu-*tun+ you had forgotten
•
yürümütü yBrBB-*tB+ he had walked
•
bilmitik 0ili-*tik+ we had known
•
#ıkmıtını @?k?-*t?n?+ you had gone out
•
anlamıtılar anla?-*t?lar+ they had understood
Turkish Past .ndefinite Perfect Tense $on%u&ation The Past Perfect .ndefinite is fored 0y adding the indefinite past tense suffi# -mi to the past tense -mi for of the ver0. There is hearsay or dou0t in the eaning of this tense as it is ade indefinite and unspecific 0y the addition of the past indefinite suffi# in -mi4 This tense signifies the indefinite Past in The Past. &(I thought) I had done it.& •
.ndefinite Past Perfect
•
&elmimıım geli-*i-i+ I had come (apparently)
•
unutmumusun unutu-*u-sun+ you had forgotten (apparently)
•
yürümümüs yBrBB-*u-+ he had walked (apparently)
•
bilmimii 0ili-*i-i+ we had known (apparently)
•
#ıkmımısını @?k?-*?-s?n?+ you had gone out (apparently)
•
anlamımılar anla?-*?-lar+ they had understood (apparently) The Turkish indefinite past perfect !S SED in daily conversation. !t is also used for s arcas as in English: "5ou 2ust had to 0e rude to your teacher yes terday; (apparently)" "6e had to leave his wife and kids for another flooie; (it sees)"
Turkish Past Perfect Tense $on%u&ation
Definite &elmitim &elmi-timE
.ndefinite I had come
&elmimiim &elmi-miimE
I had come
unutmutun unutmutunE
you had forgotten
unutmumusun unutmumusunE
you had forgotten
yürümütü yürümü-tüE
he had walked
yürümümü yürümü-müE
he had walked
bilmitik bilmi-tikE
we had known
bilmimii bilmi-miiE
we had known
#ıkmıtını #ıkmı-tınıE
you had gone out
#ıkmımısını #ıkmı-mısını
you had gone out
anlamıtılar anlamı-tılarE
they had understood
anlamımılar anlamı-mılarE
they had understood