Questions & Answers about Otobüs kalkmak üzere, çabuk gel!
What does kalkmak üzere literally mean, and how is it different from kalkacak or kalkıyor?
It literally means about to depart or on the verge of departing. It emphasizes imminence—something is expected to happen within moments. By contrast:
- kalkacak = will depart (future; could be soon or later, often timetable-like).
- kalkıyor = is departing/leaving (in progress or very soon; more neutral than the “any second now” feel of -mek üzere).
Is üzere a suffix or a separate word? How do you form this structure?
Üzere is a postposition, not a suffix. You form it with the infinitive + üzere: [verb stem] + -mek/-mak + üzere (vowel harmony picks -mek or -mak). In this sentence: kalk-mak üzere.
Why is there no explicit “is/are” in Otobüs kalkmak üzere? Is the sentence complete?
Turkish often omits the verb “to be” in the present tense for third person. Otobüs kalkmak üzere is a complete sentence with a nominal predicate, essentially “The bus (is) about to leave.”
Can I add personal endings to say “I’m/We’re about to …,” like -yim/-yiz?
Yes. Attach the personal copula to the predicate:
- Çıkmak üzereyim. = I’m about to leave.
- Başlamak üzereyiz. = We’re about to start.
- Düşmek üzeresin. = You’re about to fall.