The present continuous and the present perfect continuous tenses in turkish, yuksel goknel signed

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2014

THE PRESENT

CONTINUOUS AND

THE PRESENT PERFECT

CONTINUOUS TENSES

IN TURKISH Yüksel Göknel

THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS AND THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSES

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THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS AND THE PRESENT

PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSES IN TURKISH

The Present Continuous (Şimdiki Zaman) time morpheme is [İ.YOR], which

has four allomorphs: ♫ [i.yor, ı.yor, ü.yor, u.yor]. When these allomorphs

are attached to the verbs ending with consonants, these consonants de-

tach from their syllables and attach to the following [İ.YOR] allomorphs.

These consonants are single underlined in this document. However, when

they are attached to the verb roots, stems or frames that end with vowels,

the end vowels of these verbs drop, so the allomorphs of the [İ.YOR]

morpheme follow the vowels that precede the dropped vowels. The

dropped vowels are double underlined.

Note: The vowels that are said “dropped” are the vowels that are over-

looked by the Turkish language sound system while the previous vowels are

being linked to the following ones. This is because it is not harmonious for

the Turkish-speaking people to pronounce two vowels attached to one an-

other, so they either skip one of them, or combine them or link them with

glides.

Continuity allomorphs: ♫ [i.yor, ı.yor, ü.yor, u.yor] Personal allomorphs:

Ben: [um], Sen: [sun], O: [∅] (zero), Biz: [uz], Siz: [sun.uz], Onlar: [lar]

The verb roots, stems or frames that end with consonants:

Positive:

(Ben) bil-i.yor-um. (bi*li*yo*rum) I know.

(Ben) sor-u.yor-um. (so*ru*yo*rum) I am asking.

(Ben )bak-ı.yor-um. (ba*kı*yor*rum) I am looking.

(Sen) bil-i.yor-sun. (bi*li*yor*sun) You know..

(Sen) sor-u.yor-sun. (so*ru*yor*sun) You are asking.

(Sen) bak-ı.yor-sun. (ba*kı*yor*sun) You are looking.

(O) bil-i.yor. (bi*li*yor) He, she, it knows.

(O) sor-u.yor. (so*ru*yor) He she, it is asking.

(O) bak-ı.yor. (ba*kı*yor) He, she, it is looking.

(Biz) bil-i.yor-uz. (bi*li*yo*ruz) We know.

(Biz) sor-u.yor-uz. (so*ru*yo*ruz) We are asking.

(Biz) bak-ı.yor-uz. (ba*kı*yo*ruz) We are looking.


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(Siz) bil-i.yor-sun.uz. (bi*li*yor*su*nuz) You know.

(Siz) sor-u.yor-sun.uz. (so*ru*yor*su*nuz) You are asking.

(Siz) bak-ı.yor-sun.uz. (ba*kı*yor*su*nuz) You are looking.

(Onlar) bil-i.yor-lar. (bi*li*yor*lar) They know.

(Onlar) sor-u.yor-lar. (so*ru*yor*lar) They are asking.

(Onlar) bak-ı.yor-lar. (ba*kı*yor*lar) They are looking.

The verb roots, stems or frames that end with vowels:

(Ben) bekle-i.yor-um. (bek*li*yo*rum) I am waiting.

(Ben) anla-ı.yor-um. (an*lı*yo*rum) I understand.

(Ben) yürü-ü.yor-um. (yü*rü*yo*rum) I am walking.

(Ben) uyu-u.yor-um. (u*yu*yo*rum) I am sleeping.

(Sen) bekle-i.yor-sun. (bek*li*yor*sun) You are waiting.

(Sen) anla-ı.yor-sun. (an*lı*yor*sun) You understand.

(Sen) uyu-u.yor-sun. (u*yu*yor*sun) You are sleeping.

(Sen) yürü-ü.yor-sun. (yü*rü*yor*sun) You are walking.

(O) bele-i.yor. (bek*li*yor) He, she, it is waiting.

(O) anla-ı.yor. (an*lı*yor) He, she, it understands.

(O) yürü-ü.yor. (yü*rü*yor) He, she, it is walking.

(O) uyu-u.yor. (u*yu*yor) He, she, it is sleeping.

(Biz) berkle-i.yor-uz. (bek*li*yo*ruz) We are waiting.

(Biz) anla-ı.yor-uz. (an*lı*yo*ruz) We understand.

(Biz) yürü-ü.yor-uz. (yü*rü*yo*ruz) We are walking.

(Biz) oku-u.yor-uz. (o*ku*yo*ruz) We are reading.

(Siz) bekle-i.yor-sun.uz. (bek*li*yor*su*nuz) You are waiting.

(Siz) anla-ı.yor-sun-uz. (an*lı*yor*su*nuz) You understand.

(Siz) yürü-ü.yor-sun.uz. (yü*rü*yor*su*nuz) You are walking.

(Siz) oku-u.yor-sun.uz. (o*ku*yor*su*nuz) You are reading.

(Onlar) sürükle-ü.yor-lar. (sü*rük*lü*yor*lar) They are dragging.

(Onlar) avla-ı.yor-lar. (av*lı*yor*lar) They are hunting.

(Onlar) yürü-ü.yor-lar. (yü*rü*yor*lar) They are walking.

(Onlar) kuru-u.yor-lar. (ku*ru*yor*lar) They are drying.

The verb frames that end with consonants or vowels:

Negative:


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The negation allomorphs [me, ma] come just after verb roots, stems, or

frames. They are followed by [i.yor, ı.yor, ü.yor, u.yor] continuity allomorphs,

and then they are ended by the personal allomorphs. In this negative verb

composition the last vowels of the [me, ma] negation allomorphs drop in-

stead of the last vowels of the verbs.

Ben: [um], Sen: [sun], O [∅], Biz [uz], Siz: [sun.uz], Onlar [lar].

(Ben) koş-ma-u.yor-um. (koş*mu*yo*rum) I am not runnıng.

(Ben) bil-me-i.yor-um. (bil*mi*yo*rum) I do not know.

(Ben) sat-ma-ı.yor-um. (sat*mı*yo*rum) I am not selling

(Ben) otur-ma-u.yor-um. (o*tur*mu*yo*rum) I am not sitting

(Sen) koş-ma-u.yor-sun. (koş*mu*yor*sun) You are not running.

(Sen) anla-ma-ı.yor-sun. (an*la*mı*yor*sun) You do not understand.

(Sen) bil-me-i.yor-sun. (bil*mi*yor*sun) You do not know.

(Sen) iste-me-i.yor-sun. (is*te*mi*yor*sun) You do not want.

(O) bekle-me-i.yor. (bek*le*mi*yor) She is not waiting.

(O) anla-ma-ı.yor. (an*la*mı*yor) She does not understand.

(O) uyu-ma-u.yor. (u*yu*mu*yor) He is not sleeping.

(O) bil-me-i.yor. (bil*mi*yor) He does not know.

(Biz) anla-ma-ı.yor-uz. (an*la*mı*yo*ruz) We do not understand.

(Biz) çalış-ma-ı.yor-uz. (ça*lış*mı*yo*ruz) We are not working.

(Biz) gör-me-ü.yor-uz. (gör*mü*yo*ruz) We do not see.

(Biz) hoşlan-ma-ı.yor-uz. (hoş*lan*mı*yo*ruz) We do not like.

(Siz) anla-ma-ı.yor-sun.uz. (an*la*mı*yor*su*nuz) You do not understand.

(Siz) bekle-me-i.yor-sun.uz. (bek*le*mi*yor*su*nuz) You are not waiting.

(Siz) gör-me-ü.yor-sun.uz. (gör*mü*yor*su*nuz) You do not see.

(Siz) iste-me-i.yor-sun.uz. (is*te*mi*yor*su*nuz) You do not want.

(Onlar) gel-me-i.yor-lar. (gel*mi*yor*lar) They are not coming.

(Onlar) üşü-me-ü.yor-lar. (ü*şü*mü*yor*lar) They are not feeling cold.

(Onlar) ara-ma-ı.yor-lar. (a*ra*mı*yor*lar) Thy are not searching.

(Onlar) anla-ma-ı.yor-lar. (an*la*mı*yor*lar) They do not understand.

In positive and negatve question forms, “mu-/y/um?”, “mu-sun?”, “mu?”,

“mu-/y/uz?”, “mu-sun.uz?”, “mı?” words are seperately used after positive

and negative sentences:

Positive Question:


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(Ben) gel-i.yor mu-/y/um? (ge*li*yor / mu*yum) Am I coming?

(Sen) çalış-ı.yor mu-sun? (ça*lı*şı*yor / mu*sun) Are you studying?

(O) anla-ı.yor mu? (an*lı*yor / mu) Does he understand?

(Biz) bekle-i.yor mu-/y/uz? (bek*li*yor / mu*yuz) Are we waiting?

(Siz) anla-ı.yor mu-sun.uz? (an*lı*yor / mu*su*nuz) Do you understand?

(Onlar) bil-i.yor-lar mı? (bi*li*yor*lar / mı) Do they know?

Negative Question:

(Ben) anla-ma-ı.yor mu-/y/um? (an*la*mı*yor / mu*yum) Don’t I understand?

(Sen) çalış-ma-ı.yor mu-sun? (ça*lış*mı*yor / mu*sun) Aren’t you studying?

(O) iste-me-i.yor mu? (is*te*mi*yor / mu) Doesn’t he want?

(Biz) çalış-ma-ı.yor mu-/y/uz? (ça*lış*mı*yor / mu*yuz) Aren’t we working?

(Siz) bil-me-i.yor mu-sun.uz? (bil*mi*yor / mu*su*nuz) Don’t you know?

(Onlar) ertele-me-i.yor-lar mı? (er*te*le*mi*yor*lar / mı) Aren’t they postponing?

The Present Continuous and The Present Perfect Continuous

tenses of the English language are both expressed in The Present

Continuous Tense (şimdiki zaman) in Turkish.

Compare the sentences below:

(O) gel-i.yor.

(ge*li*yor)

He is coming. (now or later) O bir mektup yaz-ı.yor.

(o / bir / mek*tup / ya*zı*yor)

He is writing a letter. (now)

O bir saat-tir bir mektup yaz-ı.yor.

(o / bir / sa*at*tir / bir / mek*tup / ya*zı*yor)

He has been writing a letter for an hour. Jack bahçe-de oyna-u.yor.

(Jack / bah*çe*de / oy*nu*yor)

Jack is playing in the garden.

Jack sabah-tan beri bahçe-de oyna-u.yor.

(Jack / sa*bah*tan / be*ri / bah*çe*de / oy*nu*yor)

Jack has been playing in the garden since morning.

Mehmet bahçe-de koş-u.yor.

(meh*met / bah*çe*de / ko*şu*yor)

Mehmet is running in the garden. (now)


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(Ben) üç saattir çalış-ı.yor-um.

(üç / sa*at*tir / ça*lı*şı*yo*rum)

I have been studying for three hours.

(Ben) bir saat-tir sen-i bek.le-i.yor-um.

(bir / sa*at*tir / se*ni / bek*li*yo*rum)

I have been waiting for you for an hour.

(Sen) sabah-tan beri ne yap-ı.yor-sun?

(sa*bah*tan / be*ri / ne ↝ / ya*pı*yor*sun↝)

What have you been doing since morning?

(Sen) şimdi ne yap-ı.yor-sun? (a→ı)

(şim↝ di / ne / ya*pı*yor*sun↝)

What are you doing now?

(Biz) üç aydır Türkçe öğren-i.yor-uz.

(biz / üç / ay*dır / türk*çe / öğ*re*ni*yo*ruz)

We have been learning Turkish for three months. Ne kadar zaman-dır televizyon seyret-i.yor-sun?

(ne ↝/ ka*dar / za*man*dır / te*le*viz*yon / sey*re*di*yor*sun↝)

How long have you been watching television?

(Ben) uzun zamandır sen-i bekle-i.yor-um.

(u*zun / za*man*dır / se*ni / bek*li*yo*rum)

I have been waiting for you for a long time. The Present Continuous Tense of the Turkish language expresses near

future like The English Present Continuous Tense:

Uçak biraz-dan havalan-ı.yor.

(u*çak / bi*raz*dan / ha*va*la*nı*yor)

The plane is taking off soon.

Misafir-ler yarın gel-i.yor-lar.

(mi*sa:*fir*ler / ya*rın / ge*li*yor*lar)

The visitors are coming tomorrow.

Misafirler biraz-dan gel-i.yor mu?

(mi*sa:*fir*ler / bi*raz*dan / ge*li↝*yor / mu)

Are the visitors coming soon?

Yarın Londra’/y/a git-i.yor-uz.

(ya*rın / Lon*dra*ya / gi*di*yo*ruz)

We are going to London tomorrow.


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(Biz) birazdan çık-ı.yor mu-/y/uz?

(bi*raz*dan / çı*kı↝*yor / mu*yuz)

Are we leaving soon?

(Ben) yarın yeni bir araba satın al-ı.yor-um.

(ya*rın / ye*ni / bi*ra*ra*ba / sa*tı*na*lı*yo*rum) (liaison)

I’m going to buy a new car tomorrow. I’m buying a new car tomorrow.

(Siz) yarın taşın-ı.yor mu-sun.uz?

(ya*rın / ta*şı*nı*yor / mu*su*nuz)

Are you moving tomorrow. (reflexive)

(Ben) yarın sigara-/y/ı bırak-ı.yor-um.

(ya*rın / si*ga*ra*yı / bı*ra*kı*yo*rum) I am going to stop smoking tomorrow.

(Biz) birazdan çık-ı.yor-uz.

(bi*raz*dan / çı*kı*yo*ruz)

We are leaving soon.

The allomorph [dur] can also be used after The Present Continuous Tense in

Turkish to express estimation:

Jack ne yap-ı.yor?

(jack / ne↝ / ya*pı*yor↝)

What is Jack doing?

Ders çalış-ı.yor-dur.

(ders / ça*lı*şı*yor*dur)

I think (guess) he is studying.

Mary ne yap-ı.yor?

(me*ri / ne↝ / ya*pı*yor↝)

What is Mary doing?

Televizyon izle-i.yor-dur.

(te*le*viz*yon / iz*li*yor*dur)

I guess (perhaps) she is watching television.

The pronouns in brackets “( )” are optional; they are only used when they

are intentionally stressed. The wavy “↝” arrows indicate a rising question

intonation of the preceding syllable.

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The present continuous and the present perfect continuous tenses in turkish, yuksel goknel signed