Arka kapı açık olunca insanlar sessizce ofise girebiliyor.

When the back door is open, people can quietly enter the office.

Breakdown of Arka kapı açık olunca insanlar sessizce ofise girebiliyor.

• olmak: to be
• insan: the person
• ofis: the office
• arka: back
• kapı: the door
• açık: open
• sessizce: quietly
• girebilmek: to be able to enter

Questions & Answers about Arka kapı açık olunca insanlar sessizce ofise girebiliyor.

How does the conditional clause olunca function in this sentence?

Olunca is created by taking the verb olmak (to be) and adding the suffix -unca, which is used to express a condition or a point in time—essentially meaning “when” or “whenever” something is in a state. In our sentence, “açık olunca” means “when [the door] is open” and sets the condition under which the main action of the sentence occurs.

What does the verb form girebiliyor indicate, and how is it constructed?

Girebiliyor comes from the root verb girmek (to enter). It is modified by the potential suffix -ebil (adjusted as -abili following vowel harmony) to express ability and then combined with the present tense suffix -iyor and appropriate subject agreement to form girebiliyor. This means “can enter” or “is able to enter,” showing that under the given condition, people have the capability to enter the office quietly.

Why is the noun ofis changed to ofise in this sentence?

In Turkish, when indicating motion toward a place, the dative case is used. The noun ofis takes on the dative suffix -e (or -a according to vowel harmony), becoming ofise. This suffix denotes direction, translating to “to the office” in English, which clarifies where people are entering.

How is the adverb sessizce formed, and what does it mean in this context?

The adjective sessiz (quiet) is turned into the adverb sessizce (quietly/silently) by adding the adverbial suffix -ce. This suffix is commonly used in Turkish to transform adjectives into adverbs. In the sentence, sessizce describes the manner of the action—that people enter the office in a quiet or silent way.

Why is there no linking verb (such as “is”) between “arka kapı” and “açık”?

Turkish often omits the linking verb in state descriptions. Instead of using a copulative verb like “is” in English, Turkish places the adjective directly after the noun. Therefore, “arka kapı açık” naturally conveys “the back door is open” without needing an extra word for the verb “to be.”

What does the overall sentence structure reveal about Turkish word order compared to English?

The sentence follows the typical Turkish word order where the verb comes at the end. The subordinate clause “arka kapı açık olunca” (when the back door is open) precedes the main clause, and “insanlar sessizce ofise girebiliyor” (people can quietly enter the office) ends with the verb girebiliyor. This contrasts with English SVO (subject–verb–object) order, highlighting that in Turkish the modifiers and conditions are usually placed before the main verb, emphasizing time and manner before revealing the action.