Otobüs gelene kadar ben kitap okuyorum.

I am reading a book until the bus arrives.

Breakdown of Otobüs gelene kadar ben kitap okuyorum.

• ben: I
• otobüs: the bus
• gelmek: to come
• kitap: the book
• okumak: to read
• -ene kadar: until

Questions & Answers about Otobüs gelene kadar ben kitap okuyorum.

What does the structure in gelene kadar consist of, and why can’t I say geliyor kadar?

• gel- (come) + -en (present participle/relative) → gelen “(the one) that comes”
• • -e (dative) → gelene “to the coming”
• kadar is a postposition meaning “until/up to,” and it typically takes a dative form before it. Because kadar needs a noun-like/nominalized form, you use gelene, not the finite verb geliyor. So geliyor kadar is ungrammatical; say gelene kadar or gelinceye kadar.

Why is ben stated? Isn’t the subject already in okuyorum?

Yes, okuyor-um already marks 1st person singular, so ben is optional. It’s used for emphasis or contrast (e.g., “As for me, I am reading…”). Without emphasis, you can simply say: Otobüs gelene kadar kitap okuyorum.

Why is kitap not in the accusative? When would I use kitabı?

In Turkish, indefinite direct objects are usually bare (no accusative). Kitap okuyorum means “I’m reading (a) book / doing some reading.” Use the accusative kitabı when the object is definite/specific: Otobüs gelene kadar kitabı okuyorum = “I’m reading the (specific) book until the bus comes.”

Why use present continuous okuyorum instead of simple present okurum?

• okuyorum = an action in progress or a temporary/ongoing activity right now.
• okurum = habitual or general tendency. So your sentence says you’re currently engaged in reading until the bus arrives. If you said Otobüs gelene kadar kitap okurum, it would mean “I (generally) read until the bus comes (whenever I wait).”

Can I say gelinceye kadar or gelene dek instead of gelene kadar?

Yes:

• gelinceye kadar = “until the time (that) it comes,” fully equivalent in meaning; a bit more explicit/formal.
• gelene dek = same meaning; dek is a stylistic variant of kadar, somewhat literary/regional. All three are fine: gelene kadar / gelinceye kadar / gelene dek.

Why is otobüs not in the genitive (otobüsün) here?

Because the clause uses the participle -en (gelen) rather than a nominalization that requires a genitive subject. With -en, the subject stays in the nominative: otobüs gelene kadar. If you use a verbal noun, then the subject is genitive: otobüsün gelmesine kadar (“until the bus’s coming”).

Is otobüsün gelmesine kadar also correct? Any nuance difference?

Yes, it’s correct and a bit more formal/explicit. It’s built as:

• gel-me (verbal noun “coming”) + -sine (dative) → gelmesine
• otobüsün (genitive subject) Meaning-wise it’s the same: “until the bus comes.” The gelene kadar version is more common in everyday speech.

What about word order? Can I move parts around?

Turkish is flexible with word order, but the element right before the verb often carries focus. Some natural options:

• Otobüs gelene kadar kitap okuyorum. (neutral; slight focus on “kitap”)
• Kitap okuyorum otobüs gelene kadar. (emphasizes the time limit at the end)
• Ben otobüs gelene kadar kitap okuyorum. (adds emphasis/contrast on “I”)
• Otobüs gelene kadar ben kitap okuyorum. (your sentence; both the time limit and “I” are foregrounded) All are grammatical; choose based on what you want to emphasize.

How is okuyorum formed? What’s happening with vowels and the letter y?

• Dictionary form: oku-mak (to read)
• Stem: oku-
• Progressive: -yor → oku-yor = okuyor
• 1sg ending: -um (rounded because the preceding vowel is rounded) → okuyor-um = okuyorum The y is part of the progressive suffix -yor; vowel harmony gives you -um (not -ım/-im/-üm) after okuyor.

Can okuyorum express the near future (“I’m going to read…”) here?

It can in the right context (e.g., scheduled/arranged plans with a time expression), but in this sentence it most naturally reads as “I am reading (now) until the bus comes.” If you want to emphasize future intention, okuyacağım (“I will read”) is clearer: Otobüs gelene kadar kitap okuyacağım.

How do I make the sentence negative or a yes–no question?

• Negative: Otobüs gelene kadar kitap okumuyorum.
• Yes–no question: Otobüs gelene kadar kitap okuyor musun?
• Negative question: Otobüs gelene kadar kitap okumuyor musun?

Do I need a comma after kadar?

It’s optional. You may see a comma after a longer fronted adverbial for readability: Otobüs gelene kadar, ben kitap okuyorum. In everyday writing, most people omit it.

Does gelene kadar mean “while,” or strictly “until”?

It means “until.” For “while,” use -ken, e.g., Otobüsü beklerken kitap okuyorum (“While I’m waiting for the bus, I’m reading”). Gelirken would mean “while (it) is coming,” which is not the same as “until (it) comes.”

Does kitap okuyorum mean “I’m reading one book” or “I’m reading (some) books”?

Bare kitap is indefinite and number-neutral; context decides. It can mean “I’m reading a book,” “I’m doing some reading,” or simply “I’m reading.” If you need to be specific: bir kitap (“a book”), kitabı (“the book”), or a plural if you truly mean multiple: kitaplar okuyorum (rare in progressive unless you mean “various books over this period”).

Are there pronunciation tips for the tricky vowels?

• Otobüs: o-to-BÜS (front rounded ü like the French u in “tu”).
• okuyorum: o-ku-YO-rum (stress typically falls on the -yor syllable).
• gelene: ge-LE-ne (clear e sounds).