Present continuous conditional (-iyorsa)

Welcome to the library! Today, we will learn how to talk about rules and consequences based on what people are doing right now.

The Present Continuous Conditional: -(I)yorsa

To express a condition based on an action currently underway ("if [subject] is doing..."), combine the present continuous suffix -(I)yor with the conditional suffix -sa.

Because -yor always ends in the consonant r, the conditional suffix directly attaches to it and is always spelled -sa. For the third-person singular ("if he/she/it is doing"), the ending is simply -(I)yorsa.

If he is listening to music in the library, he is wearing headphones.
Kütüphanede müzik dinliyorsa kulaklık takıyor.
If the man is whispering, he is disturbing the student.
Adam fısıldıyorsa öğrenciyi rahatsız ediyor.
If the woman is concentrating, she is reading her book quietly.
Kadın konsantre oluyorsa kitabını sessizce okuyor.

Negative and Plural Forms

To make this condition negative ("if [subject] is not doing"), use the negative continuous form before adding the conditional: -m(I)yorsa.

When talking about a plural subject ("if they are doing"), the plural suffix -lar is inserted between the present continuous tense and the conditional: -(I)yorlarsa.

FormStructureExampleMeaning
Affirmative (O)Verb + -(I)yorsaokuyorsaif he/she is reading
Negative (O)Verb + -m(I)yorsaokumuyorsaif he/she is not reading
Plural (Onlar)Verb + -(I)yorlarsaokuyorlarsaif they are reading

Here are some examples of library rules applied to groups, as well as what happens when someone isn't following the expectations:

If the student is not wearing headphones, the teacher is warning him.
Öğrenci kulaklık takmıyorsa öğretmen onu uyarıyor.
If they are whispering for the project, they are not bothering anyone.
Proje için fısıldıyorlarsa kimseyi rahatsız etmiyorlar.
If the students are studying together, they are talking quietly.
Öğrenciler beraber çalışıyorlarsa sessizce konuşuyorlar.