Bugünkü çizelgeyi kontrol ettikten sonra kahve yapıyorum.

After I check today’s schedule, I make coffee.

Breakdown of Bugünkü çizelgeyi kontrol ettikten sonra kahve yapıyorum.

• bugün: today
• yapmak: to make
• sonra: after
• kahve: the coffee
• kontrol etmek: to check
• çizelge: the schedule

Questions & Answers about Bugünkü çizelgeyi kontrol ettikten sonra kahve yapıyorum.

What does “Bugünkü” mean exactly, and why isn’t it “bugünki”?

Bugünkü means “today’s.” It’s bugün (today) + the suffix -ki, which makes an adjective meaning “the one belonging to/related to X.”

Spelling note: The suffix is normally written as -ki and does not follow vowel harmony, but there are two common exceptions where it appears as -kü: bugünkü and dünkü. So “bugünki” is incorrect; it must be bugünkü.

Why is it “çizelgeyi” with -yi at the end?

Because çizelge is a specific/definite direct object (“today’s schedule”), it takes the accusative. The accusative is the -(y)ı/i/u/ü suffix; here it becomes -yi:

• çizelge
  • -i → we need a buffer consonant -y- (since the noun ends in a vowel) → çizelgeyi. The vowel is i because of vowel harmony (front, unrounded).

What exactly is the “-dikten sonra” part doing?

It forms a temporal clause meaning “after doing X.”

• Base verb + -dik (a nominalizer) + -ten/-dan (ablative) + sonra (“after”).
• In our sentence: kontrol et-
  • -dik
    • -ten
      • sonra → “after checking.” “Sonra” is a postposition that usually requires the noun before it to be in the ablative, hence -ten.

Why is it “ettikten” with a double t and not “edikten”?

Consonant assimilation. The nominalizer starts with d (-dik), but after a voiceless consonant (like t), d becomes t:

• et- + -dik → ettik- (then + -ten → ettikten) A few examples:
• git- → gittikten (sonra)
• yap- → yaptıktan (sonra)
• gör- → gördükten (sonra)
• bekle- → bekledikten (sonra)

Could I say “kontrol edip” or “kontrol edince” instead of “kontrol ettikten sonra”?

Yes, with nuance differences:

• kontrol edip: “checking and then …” (sequential, compact, stylistically lighter)
  • “Bugünkü çizelgeyi kontrol edip kahve yapıyorum.”
• kontrol edince: “when/once I check (it) …” (often immediate or conditional)
  • “Bugünkü çizelgeyi kontrol edince kahve yapıyorum.”
• kontrol ettikten sonra: explicit “after,” good when you want a clear sequence. All are natural; choose based on how strongly you want to mark “after.”

Why use “yapıyorum” (I am making) and not “yaparım” (I make) or “yapacağım” (I will make)?

• yapıyorum: present continuous; can describe something happening now, or a near-future, arranged/decided action (“After I check, I’m making coffee (right after)”). Very common in speech.
• yaparım: aorist; states habit/routine (“After checking, I (usually) make coffee.”)
• yapacağım: future; a clear future intention/promise (“After I check, I will make coffee.”) Pick the one that matches your meaning.

Can I move the parts around? What are natural word orders?

Yes, Turkish allows flexibility, but keep the object inside its clause. Natural variants include:

• Bugünkü çizelgeyi kontrol ettikten sonra kahve yapıyorum. (default)
• Kahve yapıyorum bugünkü çizelgeyi kontrol ettikten sonra. (end-focus on the time clause)
• Bugünkü çizelgeyi kontrol ettikten sonra, kahve yapıyorum. (comma optional) Don’t pull bugünkü çizelgeyi out of its clause into the main clause; it belongs with kontrol et-.

How do I show a different subject for the “checking” part?

Two common ways:

• Put the different subject before the -dikten sonra clause (nominative):
  • O bugünkü çizelgeyi kontrol ettikten sonra kahve yapıyorum. (“After he/she checks… I make coffee.”)
• Use a genitive subject + verbal noun -me/-ma
  • ablative + sonra (more explicit/formal):
    • Onun bugünkü çizelgeyi kontrol etmesinden sonra kahve yapıyorum. Avoid forms like “onun … ettiğimden sonra” here; the -me construction is the standard with a genitive subject.

Is “çizelge” the most common word for “schedule”?

Çizelge is correct and often used for timetables/rosters (e.g., school, shifts). In everyday speech, people also say:

• program (agenda/schedule/plan of events)
• takvim (calendar)
• plan (plan) Choose based on context: “iş çizelgesi/vardiya çizelgesi” (work/shift schedule), “ders programı” (class schedule).

Could I say “kontrolden sonra” instead?

Yes, if you turn “kontrol” into a noun phrase:

• Kontrolden sonra kahve yapıyorum. (“After the check, I make coffee.”) If you must keep the object, you’d nominalize it:
• Bugünkü çizelgenin kontrolünden sonra kahve yapıyorum. (correct but more formal/bookish than using the verb clause)

Why isn’t “kahve” marked with the accusative? When would I say “kahveyi” or “kahvemi”?

Here kahve is an indefinite, generic thing you’re making, so no accusative. Use marking when it’s specific or possessed:

• Specific: Kahveyi yapıyorum. (“I’m making the coffee [we mentioned].”)
• Possessed: Kahvemi yapıyorum. (“I’m making my coffee.”)

Do I need a comma after the -dikten sonra clause?

It’s optional. Many writers omit it in short, clear clauses. You can add a comma for a slight pause or emphasis:

• Bugünkü çizelgeyi kontrol ettikten sonra, kahve yapıyorum.

Can you break down the whole sentence morphologically?

• Bugünkü = bugün + -ki (exceptionally spelled with ü) → “today’s”
• çizelgeyi = çizelge + -i (accusative) with buffer -y- → “the schedule (obj.)”
• kontrol ettikten = kontrol et- (check) + -dik (nominalizer; d→t) + -ten (ablative)
• sonra = after (postposition that wants ablative before it)
• kahve = coffee (indefinite object)
• yapıyorum = yap- (do/make) + -yor (prog.) + -um (1sg) → “I am making”