-dikçe

As Long as and the More

Level 4

The suffix -dikçe connects two actions to show they are linked in intensity or frequency. It translates to 'the more...', 'as long as', or 'whenever' depending on the context.

How It Works

The -dikçe suffix is an adverbial suffix (zarf-fiil) used to describe relationships between two events. While the suffix itself is invariant and does not take personal endings, the subject of the -dikçe clause can be different from the main verb if it is explicitly stated in the nominative case (e.g., Hava karardıkça biz...).

It has four primary functions:

1. Proportionality: As one action increases, the other does too. Often paired with daha (more).
2. Duration/Condition: Expresses 'as long as' a condition is met.
3. Repetition: Indicates 'whenever' or 'every time' an action happens.
4. Negative Condition: The form -medikçe / -madıkça means 'unless' or 'as long as... not'.

Morphology:
The suffix is complex because it utilizes both Four-Way Vowel Harmony (for the -dık- part) and Two-Way Vowel Harmony (for the -çe part). It also follows Consonant Assimilation (d becomes t after voiceless consonants).

  • Bak- + -tıkça = Baktıkça (As one looks)
  • Gör- + -dükçe = Gördükçe (As one sees)

Fossilized Forms:

  • Oldukça: While literally 'as long as it is', it is most commonly used as an adverb meaning 'quite', 'rather', or 'considerably'.
  • Gittikçe: Means 'gradually' or 'increasingly'. In modern Turkish, it is often interchangeable with giderek.

Examples (6)

  1. Kitap okudukça uykum geliyor.

    The more I read books, the sleepier I get.

    Word by Word: Book as-I-read my-sleep is-coming.

    Shows proportionality: the act of reading triggers the increasing sleepiness.

  2. Hava karardıkça yıldızlar beliriyor.

    As the sky gets darker, the stars appear.

    Word by Word: Weather as-it-gets-dark stars are-appearing.

    Shows that the subjects can be different; 'hava' (the weather) is the subject of the first part, while 'yıldızlar' (stars) is the subject of the main verb.

  3. Sen yanımda oldukça hiçbir şeyden korkmam.

    As long as you are by my side, I fear nothing.

    Word by Word: You at-my-side as-long-as-being from-nothing I-do-not-fear.

    Uses the 'as long as' sense to set a continuous condition.

  4. Çalışmadıkça başaramazsın.

    Unless you work, you cannot succeed.

    Word by Word: As-long-as-not-working you-cannot-succeed.

    The negative form -medikçe expresses 'unless' or 'as long as... not'.

  5. Bu film oldukça uzunmuş.

    This movie was quite long.

    Word by Word: This movie quite long-it-seems.

    Demonstrates the fossilized adverb 'oldukça', meaning 'quite' or 'rather'.

  6. Bize geldikçe pasta getirir.

    Whenever he comes to us, he brings cake.

    Word by Word: To-us as-he-comes cake he-brings.

    Shows a repetitive action that happens every time the first action occurs.

Common Mistakes

  • Using -dikçe for a single, one-time event.

    Eve geldikçe annemi öptüm.
    Eve gelince annemi öptüm.

    If you only kissed your mother once when you arrived, use -ince. Using -dikçe implies you did it every time you came home or the more you came home.

  • Forgetting consonant assimilation after voiceless consonants.

    Çalışdıkça başarılı olursun.
    Çalıştıkça başarılı olursun.

    Since 'çalış-' ends in 'ş', the suffix must start with 't' due to consonant assimilation.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

-dikçeLevel 4As Long as and the More

Learn This First

To understand the '-dikçe' pattern, you need to be familiar with the '-dik' participle base and how it interacts with Turkish phonology, specifically vowel harmony and consonant assimilation (where 'd' becomes 't').

Words in This Pattern

-dikçe