In the previous lesson, you saw how -ki turns locations into adjectives (like masadaki - the one on the table). When talking about time, -ki also creates adjectives—such as "tomorrow's exam" or "the morning's meeting"—but with one key difference: it attaches directly to the time word, without needing a locative case ending first.
Here is how you build it:
- yarın (tomorrow) + -ki = yarınki (tomorrow's)
- sabah (morning) + -ki = sabahki (the morning's)
- akşam (evening) + -ki = akşamki (the evening's)
The "-kü" Exception for Today and Yesterday
Usually, -ki ignores vowel harmony and never changes its vowel. However, there are two major exceptions you will use constantly when reflecting on your day: dün (yesterday) and bugün (today).
Because these words end in rounded vowels, the suffix transforms to match them, becoming -kü.
- dün
- -kü = dünkü (yesterday's)
- bugün
Multi-word Time Phrases
The -ki suffix doesn't just attach to single words; it can also attach to the end of a multi-word time phrase. For example, geçen yıl (last year) becomes geçen yılki (last year's), and gelecek hafta (next week) becomes gelecek haftaki (next week's).
Using Time Adjectives to Compare
Once formed, these time words function exactly like normal adjectives. You place them immediately before the noun they describe, making them perfect for contrasting past experiences with future expectations.