ELONIO

Until doing (-(y)AnA kadar)

Saying "Until" with Verbs: -(y)ana / -(y)ene kadar

To say you are doing something "until" an action happens, attach -(y)ana kadar or -(y)ene kadar to the verb root.

Following 2-way vowel harmony:

  • Verbs with back vowels (a, ı, o, u) take -ana kadar.
  • Verbs with front vowels (e, i, ö, ü) take -ene kadar.
  • If the verb root ends in a vowel, insert the buffer letter y first.

For example, with the verb sakinleşmek (to calm down), we add -ene kadar:

I will sing a lullaby until the baby calms down.
Bebek sakinleşene kadar ninni söyleyeceğim.

For a verb ending in a vowel like uyumak (to sleep), we add the buffer y to get uyuyana kadar:

I will rock the baby until he falls asleep.
Bebek uyuyana kadar onu sallayacağım.

Subjects in "Until" Clauses

Unlike main verbs, the -(y)ana kadar suffix does not change depending on who is doing the action. It never takes personal endings.

If the person performing the action is obvious from context, you do not need to state it:

You shouldn't take the bottle out until he finishes his milk.
Sütünü bitirene kadar biberonu çıkarmamalısın.

If the "until" action is performed by someone different from the main sentence, simply place the subject noun or pronoun before the verb. For instance, when trying to distract a fussy baby:

Distract the baby until I bring the bottle.
Ben biberonu getirene kadar bebeği oyala.
The baby cried until the mother gave the pacifier.
Anne emzik verene kadar bebek ağladı.
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