Learn Hardcore Turkish: Ödevimi tamamlayınca dinleniyorum.

The -ınca suffix turns a verb into a time-clause meaning “when/after ….” Here, tamamla- (to finish) + -ınca = “when/after I finish.” It’s a single suffix that covers both “when” and “as soon as.”

Why does ödevimi have two -i endings?

In ödevimi, the first -im is the 1st-person possessive (“my”) and the second -i is the accusative case marker for the direct object. Morphologically it’s ödev + -im + -i = “my homework” (as object).

What tense is dinleniyorum, and why use it here?

Dinleniyorum is the present-continuous form (root dinlen- + -iyor + -um). Although it literally means “I am resting,” in Turkish it often expresses habitual actions: “I rest (whenever I finish my homework).” You could also use the aorist dinlenirim for a general routine, but -iyor is very common for repeated actions.

Could we instead say Ödevimi tamamladıktan sonra dinleniyorum?

Yes. tamamladıktan sonra (“after having finished”) is another way to form the time-clause, using the verbal noun tamamlamak + -(d)ıktan sonra. It means the same as tamamlayınca, though -ınca is shorter and more colloquial.

Can the object ödevimi be dropped?

Absolutely. If the context makes it clear what you’re finishing, you can say Tamamlayınca dinleniyorum and it still means “I rest after finishing (it).” Turkish often omits objects when they’re understood.

Why is the time-clause placed before the main clause?

Turkish typically puts time-clauses (like those with -ınca) before the main action for clarity and emphasis. It isn’t a strict rule—you could say Dinleniyorum ödevimi tamamlayınca—but starting with Ödevimi tamamlayınca sounds more natural.

Could we use Ödevimi bitirince dinleniyorum instead?

Yes. bitirmek (to finish/end) works just like tamamlamak here. bitirince = “when/after I finish,” so the sentence carries the same meaning.

How would you say “I will rest after I finish my homework”?

Keep the -ınca clause and change the main verb to future tense:
Ödevimi tamamlayınca dinleneceğim.
Here dinleneceğim is the future form “I will rest.”