To express doing something "as much as" an action allows—like stacking as many boxes as will fit, or using as much space as you calculated—Turkish pairs the postposition kadar with a special verb form.
The formula for an adverbial clause of present or past extent is:
- Verb stem + -dık / -dik / -duk / -dük
- Possessive suffix (indicating who or what performs the action)
- kadar
Because possessive suffixes almost always start with a vowel, the k in -dık usually softens to a ğ (-dığı, -diği, -duğu, -düğü).
For example, with sığmak (to fit): sığ + dık + ı (its) + kadar = sığdığı kadar (as much as fits).
| The mover placed as many boxes into the truck as would fit. | Nakliyeci kamyona sığdığı kadar kutu yerleştirdi. |
If we are the ones performing the limiting action, we use the "our" possessive suffix (-ımız / -imiz): hesaplamak (to calculate) -> hesapladığımız kadar (as much as we calculated).
| We used the truck's volume as much as we calculated. | Kamyonun hacmini hesapladığımız kadar kullandık. |
Setting Physical Limits
When coordinating logistics, directing a nakliyeci (mover), or managing a truck's hacim (volume) and ağırlık (weight), this structure is perfect for establishing exact limits based on the environment or your plans.
| The mover carried as much weight as he calculated. | Nakliyeci hesapladığı kadar ağırlık taşıdı. |
The action setting the limit is often performed by an inanimate object or a physical property. In these cases, simply use the third-person possessive suffix (-ı / -i / -u / -ü) for "its".
| They filled the gaps as much as the weight allowed. | Boşlukları ağırlığın izin verdiği kadar doldurdular. |
| We stacked as many pallets as the volume allowed. | Hacmin izin verdiği kadar palet istifledik. |
"Enough To" with Future Extent
If the extent reaches a future or potential state rather than a present limit—like stacking pallets "enough to touch the ceiling"—you will use the future suffix -acak / -ecek instead of -dık. Unlike -dık, this future form does not take a possessive suffix before kadar.
| Let the mover stack the pallets enough to touch the ceiling. | Nakliyeci paletleri tavana değecek kadar istiflesin. |
Applying Limits to Nouns
You can also place a noun immediately after kadar to specify exactly what is being limited, such as a number of boxes, pallets, or even a unit of ölçü (measurement) like santimetre.
| I reduced the dimension by as many centimeters as you said. | Ölçüyü senin söylediğin kadar santimetre azalttım. |