Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Turkish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Seni gördüğümde gülüyorum.
What exactly does gördüğümde mean, and how is it built?
It literally means when I see or at the time that I see. Morphology:
- gör- (see) + -DIK (nominalizer/relative participle) → gördük
- add 1st-person singular possessive -(I)m → k softens to ğ: gördüğüm
- add locative -de (in/at/when) → gördüğümde Functionally, it turns the verb into a time-expression: at the time I see.
Why is it seni and not sana?
Because görmek (to see) takes a direct object in the accusative. Seni is the accusative form of sen and marks a specific, definite object. Sana is dative (to/for you) and is used with verbs that require dative, e.g. birine gülmek (to laugh at someone): Sana gülüyorum = I’m laughing at you.
Is gülmek “to laugh” or “to smile”?
Primarily it means to laugh. In everyday speech it can also imply “to smile” depending on context and tone. If you want to be explicit about smiling (gentler than laughing), use gülümsemek: Seni gördüğümde gülümsüyorum.
What’s the difference between gülüyorum and gülerim here?
- gülüyorum (present continuous) often expresses what happens now or around now, and in colloquial Turkish it also conveys a personal, ongoing or habitual tendency: “I (can’t help but) laugh/smile (whenever I see you).”
- gülerim (aorist) is more neutral/general-habitual: “I (generally) laugh.” It can sound more detached or matter-of-fact: Seni görünce gülerim.
How does Seni gördüğümde compare to Seni görünce?
Both mean “when/whenever I see you.”
- -ince/-ınca (as in görünce) is very common and colloquial; it basically means “upon doing.”
- -DIK + (possessive) + -de (as in gördüğümde) is more explicit and flexible: you can mark the subject inside the clause and add other suffixes. It’s often a bit more formal or precise. Example difference in subject marking (only possible with the -DIK form): Sen beni gördüğünde ben gülüyorum = When you see me, I laugh.
What person is encoded in -düğümde? Can you show the pattern?
The possessive part shows the subject of the “seeing” action:
- gördüğümde = when I see
- gördüğünde = when you see OR when he/she/it sees (ambiguous; context decides)
- gördüğümüzde = when we see
- gördüğünüzde = when you (pl./formal) see
- gördüklerinde = when they see
Can I leave out seni?
If you omit it, you lose the specific object “you.” Gördüğümde gülüyorum means “When I see (someone/something), I laugh,” which is vague. Because you want “you,” you keep seni (or formal sizi).
Where does seni go in the sentence? Is the word order fixed?
Elements of the subordinate clause normally come right before the nominalized verb. So the natural chunk is Seni gördüğümde. Placing seni elsewhere (e.g., Gördüğümde seni) is unnatural here. Full sentence: Seni gördüğümde gülüyorum.
How do I pronounce gördüğümde? What does ğ do?
The ğ (yumuşak g) isn’t pronounced like a hard “g.” It lengthens or glides the preceding vowel. So -düğüm- sounds like a long düü(m). A rough guide: “gör-düüüm-de.” Don’t insert a hard g/k sound.
What is the -de at the end? Is it the same as the separate de/da meaning “also”?
Here it’s the locative suffix -de/-da (with vowel harmony), which can mean “in/at,” and in time expressions it corresponds to “when.” It’s attached to the word: gördüğümde. The separate clitic de/da meaning “also/too” is written separately: Ben de. Different functions and spelling.
How do tenses work with gördüğümde?
The tense comes from the main clause; gördüğümde itself is time-neutral:
- Seni gördüğümde güldüm. = When I saw you, I laughed. (past)
- Seni gördüğümde gülüyor(d)um. = When I saw you, I was laughing. (past continuous)
- Seni gördüğümde güleceğim. = When I see you, I will laugh. (future)
- Seni gördüğümde gülüyorum. = When(ever) I see you, I (am) laugh(ing). (present/habitual)
How do I make it formal or plural you?
Use sizi (accusative of siz):
- Sizi gördüğümde gülüyorum. = When I see you (sir/ma’am/you all), I smile/laugh.
How can I say “every time” or “always” here?
- Seni her gördüğümde gülüyorum. = Every time I see you, I laugh.
- Seni gördüğüm her seferinde gülüyorum.
- You can add adverbs: Seni gördüğümde hep gülüyorum / her zaman gülüyorum. Tip: Don’t say Her seni gördüğümde; put her before gördüğümde, not before seni.
How do I negate it or turn it into a question?
- Negation: Seni gördüğümde gülmüyorum. = I don’t laugh when I see you.
- Yes/no question: Seni gördüğümde gülüyor muyum? = Do I laugh when I see you? Adjust person as needed: Seni gördüğümde gülüyor musun?
Can I add explicit subjects like ben or sen?
Yes, for emphasis or clarity:
- Ben seni gördüğümde gülüyorum. (I’m the one who laughs.)
- To contrast subjects: Sen beni gördüğünde ben gülüyorum. = When you see me, I laugh.