Breakdown of Toplantı başlar başlamaz gündemi paylaşacağım.
paylaşmak
to share
toplantı
the meeting
başlar başlamaz
as soon as
gündem
the agenda
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Questions & Answers about Toplantı başlar başlamaz gündemi paylaşacağım.
Where is “as soon as” in this sentence?
Turkish expresses “as soon as” with the fixed pattern V-(A)r V-mez/maz (the same verb twice): affirmative aorist + negative aorist. Here, başlar başlamaz (from başlamak, “to start”) means “as soon as it starts.” The second part looks negative (-maz), but in this idiom it doesn’t negate the meaning; it just forms the “as soon as” construction. Common parallels: gelir gelmez (as soon as he comes), yapar yapmaz (as soon as he does), biter bitmez (as soon as it ends).
Why are there two forms of the same verb (başlar and başlamaz) back to back?
That’s how the as soon as idiom is built: you repeat the same verb in the affirmative aorist (başlar) and then in the negative aorist (başlamaz). With başlamak: affirmative aorist 3rd person is başlar; negative aorist is başlamaz (negation -ma- + aorist -z). Together: başlar başlamaz = “the moment it starts.”
Why is it -maz and not -mez?
Vowel harmony. The last vowel of the stem başla- is a back vowel a, so the negative aorist uses the back form -maz. If the last vowel were a front vowel (e or i), you’d use -mez (e.g., gelir gelmez).
Could I say “Toplantı başladığında” instead?
You can, but it’s slightly different. Toplantı başladığında = “when the meeting starts/at the time it starts,” which is more neutral. Toplantı başlar başlamaz adds a strong immediacy: “the very moment it starts.” A close alternative that keeps the immediacy is Toplantı başladığı anda or Toplantı başlayınca hemen.
Can I add hemen (“immediately”) for emphasis? Where does it go?
Yes. Natural placements:
- Toplantı başlar başlamaz hemen gündemi paylaşacağım.
- Toplantı başlar başlamaz, gündemi hemen paylaşacağım.
- You can also put it at the start: Hemen toplantı başlar başlamaz gündemi paylaşacağım.
Why is it gündemi (with -i) and not just gündem?
Gündemi is the definite direct object (“the agenda”), so it takes the accusative suffix -(y)i. If you’re talking about a non-specific agenda, you would not use the accusative: bir gündem paylaşacağım (“I’ll share an agenda”). Using -i signals that both speaker and listener know which agenda is meant.
Would “gündem paylaşacağım” (no -i, no “bir”) be correct?
Grammatically yes—it would be an indefinite object (“I’ll share agenda/agenda items”), but it sounds incomplete or unusual unless context clearly supports an indefinite, unspecific “agenda.” For natural indefinite meaning, prefer bir gündem paylaşacağım or specify: gündem maddeleri paylaşacağım (“I’ll share the agenda items”).
How is paylaşacağım formed?
Root paylaş- (“share”) + future -(y)AcAK + 1st sg -(I)m → paylaş-acak-ım. When a vowel follows, the k in -acak/-ecek softens to ğ, and the vowels harmonize: paylaşacağım. The ğ (yumuşak g) lengthens the preceding vowel; it’s not pronounced as a hard g.
Could I use paylaşırım instead of paylaşacağım?
Yes, but the nuance changes. Paylaşırım (aorist) is habitual/neutral promise: “I (typically) share / I’ll share (as a matter of course).” Paylaşacağım is definite future: “I will (I’m going to) share.” In a one-off plan, paylaşacağım fits best.
Do I need a comma after the başlar başlamaz part?
Optional. You’ll often see a comma because the first part functions like a temporal clause: Toplantı başlar başlamaz, gündemi paylaşacağım. Without a comma is also fine in short sentences.
Who is the subject of başlar here?
Toplantı (“the meeting”) is the subject. In başlar, there’s no person suffix because the aorist 3rd person singular is just the bare -r ending, and the subject is expressed by the noun Toplantı.
Can I change the word order?
Yes. Turkish is flexible. All of these are natural:
- Toplantı başlar başlamaz gündemi paylaşacağım.
- Gündemi, toplantı başlar başlamaz paylaşacağım. (focus on “the agenda”)
- Toplantı başlar başlamaz, paylaşacağım gündemi. (heavy emphasis on “agenda,” more marked) The finite verb typically stays at the end: paylaşacağım.
How do I negate the main action or talk about “before/after” instead of “as soon as”?
- Negate main action: Toplantı başlar başlamaz gündemi paylaşmayacağım. (“I won’t share … as soon as …”)
- “Before it starts”: Toplantı başlamadan gündemi paylaşacağım.
- “After it starts”: Toplantı başladıktan sonra gündemi paylaşacağım.
- “Not until it starts”: Toplantı başlamadan gündemi paylaşmayacağım.
How do I say “As soon as I start the meeting, …” (with “I” as the starter)?
Use the transitive başlatmak: Toplantıyı başlatır başlatmaz gündemi paylaşacağım. Here, toplantıyı is the object of başlatmak.
Where is the “I” in the sentence? There’s no ben.
It’s encoded in the verb. The suffix in paylaşacağım is 1st person singular, so ben is optional. You can add Ben for emphasis or contrast: Ben, toplantı başlar başlamaz gündemi paylaşacağım.
Is gündem the same as ajanda?
No. Gündem is the meeting agenda/topics. Ajanda is a (physical or digital) planner/diary. For “share the agenda (with participants),” use gündemi paylaşmak.