Breakdown of Toplantı biter bitmez ince ayar yapacağız.
yapmak
to do
toplantı
the meeting
biter bitmez
as soon as it ends
ince ayar
the fine-tuning
Questions & Answers about Toplantı biter bitmez ince ayar yapacağız.
How does the pattern in biter bitmez work?
It’s a fixed Turkish “as soon as” construction: use the verb twice—first in the affirmative aorist (3rd person singular), then in the negative aorist (3rd person singular).
Formula: V-(i)r / -(a)r + V-mez/maz
Examples:
- gelir gelmez = as soon as (someone) comes
- görür görmez = as soon as (someone) sees
- yapar yapmaz = as soon as (someone) does
- gider gitmez = as soon as (someone) goes/leaves
- başlar başlamaz = as soon as (something) starts
- In your sentence: biter bitmez = as soon as (it) ends
Why is the aorist (present simple) used instead of the past tense?
Because this is an idiomatic temporal connector formed specifically with the aorist. It doesn’t narrate a past event; it sets up a condition for immediate sequence. The main clause then shows the actual time, here the future: yapacağız “we will do.”
What’s the difference between biter bitmez and bitince / bittiğinde?
- biter bitmez = “as soon as” with a strong sense of immediacy (no delay).
- bitince / bittiğinde = “when/once it ends” (neutral timing; may or may not be immediate). You can add hemen to either, but biter bitmez already implies “right away.”
Do I need to add hemen (“immediately”)?