Kitabı teslim alır almaz okumaya başlayacağım.

As soon as I receive the book, I will start reading.

Breakdown of Kitabı teslim alır almaz okumaya başlayacağım.

• kitap: the book
• okumak: to read
• başlamak: to start
• teslim alır almaz: as soon as

Questions & Answers about Kitabı teslim alır almaz okumaya başlayacağım.

What does teslim alır almaz mean and how is it formed?

teslim alır almaz is a fixed conjunction meaning “as soon as (I/you/he…) receive(s) it.” It’s built from:

• teslim almak (“to take delivery of, to receive”)
• the simple present stem alır
• the suffix -maz, which attaches to a present‐tense form to signal immediate consequence.

Together, alır + maz = “as soon as [the action] happens.”

Why is the verb alır in the simple present if it refers to a future action?

In Turkish, the simple present (also called the aorist) can denote:

• Habitual or general truths
• Near‐future events in conjunction with certain suffixes

When paired with -maz, the aorist form alır doesn’t mean “he always receives,” but rather serves as the base for the “as soon as” construction pointing to a forthcoming event.

What exactly does the suffix -maz do in alır almaz?

The suffix -maz:

• Follows a verb in the aorist form (e.g. alır)
• Creates a subordinating conjunction meaning “as soon as” or “no sooner than”
• Emphasizes that the second action happens immediately after the first

Why is the phrase teslim almak used instead of using almak by itself?

teslim almak is a verb‐noun combination meaning “to take delivery of” or “to receive something formally.”

• almak alone is “to take” or “to get,” but
• teslim specifies delivery or hand‐over, making the sense more precise.

Why is okumaya used before başlamak? What is this form?

okumaya is the verbal noun (infinitive) of oku (“read”) formed with the suffix -ma + linking vowel -ya.

• With başlamak (“to begin”), Turkish requires the verbal noun of the action you start.
• So okumaya başlamak = “to begin reading.”

Why is the main clause verb başlayacağım in the future tense, while the subordinate clause uses the simple present?

Turkish often mixes:

• Simple present
  • -maz in the subordinate clause for “as soon as”
• Future tense in the main clause to express the result you will do
  Thus:
  “**As soon as I receive the book, I will start reading.”
  (“Kitabı teslim alır almaz okumaya başlayacağım.”)

Why is kitabı in the accusative case here?

The accusative case (-ı on kitap) marks a definite direct object. You’re referring to a specific book that both speaker and listener know about. If it were indefinite (“a book”), you’d say “kitap alır almaz” without -ı.

Can I use a different structure instead of alır almaz, such as aldığımda or alır alsa?

Yes, you have alternatives, but with slight nuance differences:

• Kitabı teslim aldığımda okumaya başlayacağım.
  (“When I receive the book, I will start reading.”)
  → Less immediate nuance; focuses on timing rather than “no sooner than.”
• Kitabı teslim alır almaz okumaya başlayacağım.
  → Emphasizes immediacy: you start reading right away.
• Kitabı teslim alsam okumaya başlardım.
  (“If I were to receive the book, I would start reading.”)
  → Conditional mood, changes the meaning entirely.