When describing a mixed group of people where individuals are doing different things, Turkish uses indefinite correlative pronouns. Equivalent to the English "some... some...", this structure divides a crowd to show contrasting behaviors or outcomes.
Using kimisi ... kimisi ...
The word kimisi means "some" or "some of them". To contrast two different actions happening within the same group, place kimisi before the first action and repeat it before the second.
| After the great chaos ended, some dispersed, some stayed there. | Büyük kargaşa bittikten sonra kimisi dağıldı, kimisi orada kaldı. |
| On the avenue, some look around at the shop windows, some rush to work. | Caddede kimisi vitrinlere bakınır, kimisi işe koşuşturur. |
The Shorter Form kimi ... kimi ...
You will also frequently see the shorter base form, kimi. It functions exactly the same way as kimisi.
| In the past, at the fair, some would shop from the street vendor, some would spend no money at all. | Eskiden fuarda kimi seyyar satıcıdan alışveriş yapar, kimi hiç para harcamazdı. |
Setting the Scene in a Crowd
These correlative pairs are highly useful for setting the scene in a chaotic environment, like a bustling street, a long queue, or a fair.
| At the fair, some are browsing the booths, some are waiting in the queue. | Fuarda kimisi stantları geziyor, kimisi kuyrukta bekliyor. |
| The queue is long; some sit to wait, some rush to the street vendor. | Kuyruk uzun; kimi beklemek için oturuyor, kimi seyyar satıcıya koşuşturuyor. |
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