Kapı açılır açılmaz içeri gireceğiz.

As soon as the door opens, we will enter.

Breakdown of Kapı açılır açılmaz içeri gireceğiz.

• kapı: the door
• girmek: to enter
• içeri: inside
• açılır açılmaz: as soon as

Questions & Answers about Kapı açılır açılmaz içeri gireceğiz.

Why are there two verbs in açılır açılmaz, and doesn’t açılmaz mean “doesn’t open”?

• The pattern V-(A)r V-mez (aorist + negative aorist) is a fixed construction meaning “as soon as V”. The second verb is morphologically negative, but in this idiom it does not contribute ordinary negation.
• Examples: Gelir gelmez aradı = “He called as soon as he arrived.” / Biter bitmez çıkıyoruz = “We’re leaving as soon as it ends.”
• Here, açılır açılmaz = “as soon as (it) opens / is opened.”

Why is the passive used (açılır) instead of an active form?

• Kapı açılır uses the passive of açmak/açılmak to focus on the door’s opening as an event, without mentioning who opens it.
• If you want to say “as soon as someone opens the door,” you’d typically use an active transitive clause with an object:
  
  • Kapıyı açar açmaz içeri gireceğiz = “As soon as we open the door, we’ll go in” (subject control: the subject is “we”).
  • To make the opener someone else, specify a subject: Biri kapıyı açar açmaz içeri gireceğiz = “As soon as someone opens the door, we’ll go in.”

Can I replace açılır açılmaz with -ince/-ınca (e.g., Kapı açılınca)? What’s the difference?

• Yes: Kapı açılınca içeri gireceğiz is correct.
• Nuance: -ince/-ınca means “when/once,” neutral about timing. V-(A)r V-mez emphasizes immediacy: “the very moment that…”
• So açılır açılmaz is stronger and snappier than açılınca.

What does each piece of the verbs mean morphologically?

• aç-ıl-ır: aç (open) + -ıl (passive) + -ır (aorist, 3sg) → “(it) opens/is opened (habitually/instantaneously in this idiom)”
• aç-ıl-maz: aç (open) + -ıl (passive) + -maz (negative aorist, 3sg) → part of the idiom “as soon as”
• gir-ecek-iz: gir (enter) + -ecek (future) + -iz (1pl) → “we will enter”

Why is it kapı (nominative) and not kapıyı (accusative)?

• In Kapı açılır (açılmaz), kapı is the grammatical subject of a passive clause (“the door is opened/opens”).
• Kapıyı appears with the active transitive verb açmak: Kapıyı açar açmaz… (“as soon as [someone] opens the door…”).

Do I need to say içeri? Could I use içeriye or something else?

• içeri (directional adverb “inside”) is the most common with girmek: içeri girmek = “to go in.”
• içeriye is also correct (more explicitly directional); both are fine: içeri(ye) gireceğiz.
• Related forms:
  • içeride = “inside, in there” (location)
  • içerisi = “the inside/interior” (noun with possessive)
  • Pick based on meaning: going to = içeri/İçeriye, being in = içeride.

Can I omit içeri and just say gireceğiz?

• Grammatically yes—context may supply the place. But Turkish normally names the goal with içeri/İçeriye or a specific noun: odaya/arabaya/okula gireceğiz.
• Bare girmek without a complement can sound incomplete unless the destination is crystal clear from context.

Could I use the aorist gireriz instead of the future gireceğiz?

• gireceğiz = definite future plan/intention for a particular occasion.
• gireriz can sound like a general rule or scheduled/typical response (“whenever the door opens, we go in”) or a casually decided plan.
• In this specific, one-off plan, gireceğiz is the most natural.

Could I use the present progressive giriyoruz?

• giriyoruz can talk about a near-future arrangement (“we’re going in [right after it opens]”), but it’s less standard in this “triggered future action” context than gireceğiz.
• You’ll most often hear gireceğiz with açılır açılmaz.

Where can I place the time clause? Do I need a comma?

• Both orders work:
  • Kapı açılır açılmaz içeri gireceğiz.
  • İçeri, kapı açılır açılmaz gireceğiz.
• A comma is optional and used for readability, especially if the clause is long. The initial position (as given) is very natural.

Can I add hemen to stress immediacy?

• Yes. Kapı açılır açılmaz hemen içeri gireceğiz.
• hemen reinforces “right away”; place it near the main verb or immediately after the time clause.

Is the subject pronoun biz necessary? Can I include it?

• Not necessary: Turkish is pro-drop; -iz on gireceğiz already encodes “we.”
• You can add Biz for emphasis/contrast: Biz kapı açılır açılmaz içeri gireceğiz (başkaları değil).

Does açılır mean the door opens by itself, or that someone opens it?

• It’s compatible with both readings; it focuses on the door’s state change, not the agent.
• If you need to specify an agent, switch to active and add a subject/object: Biri kapıyı açar açmaz… or refer to a specific person: Güvenlik kapıyı açar açmaz…

Any pronunciation tips for this sentence?

• ı (dotless i) is a back, unrounded vowel, like the vowel in English “roses” for some speakers; not like “ee.”
• ç = “ch” in “church.”
• ğ in gireceğiz lengthens the preceding vowel; it’s not a hard “g.” So roughly: gi-re-cee-iz (the “ee” a bit lengthened).

Is there any register or style nuance with açılır açılmaz?

• It’s common and neutral in both speech and writing.
• The active version V-ar V-maz (e.g., Açar açmaz) is equally common; choose passive vs active based on whether you want to mention an agent.