Learn Turkish: Atlet on bire on kala bitiş çizgisini gördü. - The athlete saw the finish line at ten to eleven.

To state that an event happens at a certain time 'to' the hour, Turkish uses the pattern: [Hour] + Dative suffix + [Minutes] + kala. Here, the hour on bir (eleven) takes the dative suffix -e to become on bire. We then add the minutes (on) and the word kala.

What does the word kala literally mean?

It comes from the verb kalmak (to remain or stay). In this time structure, it acts as a special time word meaning 'remaining'. Therefore, on bire on kala literally translates to 'ten remaining to eleven'.

Why does the word for line, çizgi, have the complex ending -sini in bitiş çizgisini?

This combines two grammar rules you have seen before. First, 'finish line' is a noun compound: bitiş (finish) + çizgi (line). The second word needs the third-person possessive suffix -si, making it bitiş çizgisi. Second, because it is the specific thing the athlete saw, it takes the accusative case suffix -i. When adding a case marker to a possessive suffix, Turkish requires the buffer letter -n-, resulting in çizgi-si-n-i.

Could the time phrase on bire on kala go after the verb?