……
Breakdown of Berbere uğrayınca randevu alıyorum.
almak
to take
randevu
the appointment
-e
to
-ınca
when
uğramak
to stop by
berber
the barber
Questions & Answers about Berbere uğrayınca randevu alıyorum.
Why is it berbere (with -e) and not just berber?
Because uğramak (to stop by/drop in) takes the dative case (-e/-a) for the place you stop by. Think of the pattern as X‑e uğramak = to stop by X.
- Examples: Markete uğrayınca…, Arkadaşıma uğradım.
Could I say berberi instead?
No. Berberi is accusative (direct object), but uğramak is intransitive and does not take a direct object. You need the dative: berbere. Bare berber without a case ending would be ungrammatical here.
What does the suffix -(y)ınca in uğrayınca mean?
It forms a temporal adverbial clause meaning when/whenever. Morphology here is:
- uğra- (verb stem) + -y- (buffer consonant) + -ınca (when/whenever) → uğrayınca.
Why is it -ınca (not -ince, -unca, etc.) and why is there a y?
- Vowel harmony: -(I)nca has four forms: -ınca/-ince/-unca/-ünce. You choose by the last vowel of the stem. The last vowel in uğra- is a (back, unrounded), so you get -ınca → uğra‑y‑ınca.
- Buffer y: The stem ends in a vowel (uğra-) and the suffix begins with a vowel, so Turkish inserts y to avoid a vowel clash.
Does -(y)ınca itself carry tense?
No. The tense comes from the main clause. -(y)ınca can pair with past, present, or future in the main verb:
- …uğrayınca randevu aldım. (When I stopped by, I got…)
- …uğrayınca randevu alıyorum. (When/whenever I stop by, I get…)
- …uğrayınca randevu alacağım. (When I stop by, I will get…)
Why is the main verb alıyorum (present continuous) instead of the aorist alırım?
Both are possible but with a nuance:
- alırım (aorist) = neutral, generic habit or rule.
- alıyorum (-yor) = in conversation often used for current/regular practice within a time frame, sounding a bit more immediate or personal. So: Berbere uğrayınca randevu alırım and …alıyorum are both fine; the latter feels more colloquial/ongoing.
Does the when-clause have to come first?
No. Turkish is flexible with adverbial clauses. The default is to put the time clause first, but you can also say:
- Randevu alıyorum berbere uğrayınca. Fronting the when-clause (Berbere uğrayınca…) is the most natural, as it sets the time frame up front.
Why doesn’t randevu have the accusative -yu?
Because it’s an indefinite object (you’re not talking about a specific, previously known appointment). Indefinite direct objects are unmarked:
- Indefinite: Randevu alıyorum.
- Definite/specific: Randevuyu alıyorum. (that particular appointment)
Is randevu almak the standard way to say make an appointment?
Yes. Common collocations:
- Most neutral: randevu almak
- Also common: randevu ayarlamak
- In online/official contexts: randevu oluşturmak
- At some places (barber, clinic): randevu yazdırmak (put your name down) Avoid randevu yapmak; it sounds odd to natives.
What nuance does uğramak have compared with gitmek or ziyaret etmek?
- uğramak = to stop by briefly, often on the way.
- gitmek = to go (neutral, no implication of brevity).
- ziyaret etmek = to visit (full/intentional visit, often longer or more formal). So berbere uğramak suggests a quick drop‑in.
How do I say if I stop by rather than when I stop by?
Use the conditional on the verb: Berbere uğrarsam randevu alırım/alacağım.
How do I say as soon as I stop by?
Use the fixed pattern -(y)ar -(y)maz:
- Berbere uğrar uğramaz randevu alırım/alacağım. You can also say: Berbere uğradığım gibi…
What if the subject of the when-clause is different from the main clause?
You can keep -(y)ınca and state the different subject overtly:
- Sen berbere uğrayınca ben randevu alıyorum. Alternatively, use the -dığında/-diğinde construction, which explicitly marks the subject in genitive:
- Senin berbere uğradığında ben randevu alıyorum.
Any pronunciation tips for uğrayınca and berbere?
- ğ does not make a hard sound; it lengthens the preceding vowel. In uğra‑, the u is lengthened and the transition into r is smooth.
- ı (undotted i) is a back, unrounded vowel, like the sound in English roses’ second syllable; in uğrayınca it’s the -yın- part.
- c is like English j in jam. Approximate: uğrayınca ≈ oo-rah-yuhn-jah; berbere ≈ behr-beh-reh.
More from this lesson
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Turkish grammar?”
Turkish grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning TurkishMaster Turkish — from Berbere uğrayınca randevu alıyorum to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions