The Formal "Without Doing" Converb: -maksızın / -meksizin
To describe an action that happens continuously or without interruption, Turkish uses the formal negative converb -maksızın or -meksizin. It translates to "without doing" and is frequently used in written or formal contexts.
Attach the suffix -sızın or -sizin (meaning "without") to the verb's infinitive (-mak or -mek). Vowel harmony dictates the two forms:
- Verbs with back vowels (a, ı, o, u) take -maksızın
- Verbs with front vowels (e, i, ö, ü) take -meksizin
| He read the long paragraphs in the exam without getting fed up. | Sınavdaki uzun paragrafları usanmaksızın okudu. |
| She is solving problems without resting like a robot to get the score she aimed for. | Hedeflediği puanı almak için bir robot gibi dinlenmeksizin problem çözüyor. |
Describing Relentless Action
Because this suffix emphasizes that a secondary action was bypassed while the main action took place, it is perfect for describing non-stop, focused effort—like studying for an exam without pausing to rest.
| to catch one's breath | soluklanmak |
| The student was writing the summary of the book without catching his breath. | Öğrenci, soluklanmaksızın kitabın özetini yazıyordu. |
| The young man is working non-stop with great perseverance to improve his English. | Genç adam, İngilizcesini ilerletmek için büyük bir azimle durmaksızın çalışıyor. |
| He studied without blinking an eye for the success he aimed for. | Hedeflediği başarı için gözünü kırpmaksızın çalıştı. |
Comparing with -madan / -meden
You might already be familiar with the everyday suffix -madan / -meden, which also means "without doing." The -maksızın / -meksizin structure carries the exact same meaning but elevates the tone, making it sound more literary. You will sometimes see both forms used in the same sentence to avoid repetition while maintaining a descriptive flow.
| Without blinking his eye at all, he finished the last paragraph without catching his breath. | Gözünü hiç kırpmadan, son paragrafı soluklanmaksızın bitirdi. |