-dır (süre)
For (Length of Time)
The suffix -dIr attaches to time quantities (like 'three hours' or 'five years') to show how long an action has been happening. It is used for actions that started in the past and are still continuing.
How It Works
The -dır suffix is the standard way to indicate duration for ongoing states. Note that while this suffix looks identical to the formal copula or certainty marker -dır, its function here is strictly to indicate duration.
1. Formation:
It attaches to a quantity of time (Number + Time Unit).
- İki gün (Two days) + -dür = İki gündür (For two days)
- Beş yıl (Five years) + -dır = Beş yıldır (For five years)
- Üç saat (Three hours) + -tir = Üç saattir (For three hours)
2. Usage with Tenses:
Because the action is ongoing, it is most frequently paired with the present continuous tense. Since Turkish has no separate present perfect for ongoing actions, this construction is the main way to express 'have been doing'.
It can also be paired with the past continuous to describe an action that had been ongoing up until a specific point in the past.
3. Important Restriction and Exceptions:
The -dır suffix is not used with the affirmative simple past tense for completed actions. For finished events, use the bare time unit: İki saat çalıştım (I worked for two hours).
However, it is used with the negative simple past to show the duration of a state where something has not happened: İki gündür yemek yemedim (I haven't eaten for two days).
4. Informal Style:
In casual, spoken Turkish, the -dır suffix is very often dropped entirely. While İki saattir bekliyorum is grammatically complete, you will frequently hear İki saat bekliyorum in daily speech.
5. Distinction from -dan beri:
While -den beri focuses on the starting point (since Monday), -dır focuses on the total span (for three days).
Examples (5)
- İki saattir seni bekliyorum.
I have been waiting for you for two hours.
Word by Word: Two hour-for you I-am-waiting.
The action of waiting started two hours ago and is still happening now.
- Babam on yıldır bu evde yaşıyor.
My father has been living in this house for ten years.
Word by Word: My-father ten year-for this house-in is-living.
Shows a long-term ongoing state using the duration suffix.
- Üç gündür hastayım.
I have been sick for three days.
Word by Word: Three day-for I-am-sick.
This suffix can also be used in sentences without a verb to show how long a state has existed.
- Beş gündür uyumadım.
I haven't slept for five days.
Word by Word: Five day-for I-did-not-sleep.
While not used for affirmative past actions, -dır is used with the negative simple past to show how long a non-action has lasted.
- Dört haftadır Türkçe çalışıyoruz.
We have been studying Turkish for four weeks.
Word by Word: Four week-for Turkish we-are-working.
Note how the suffix attaches to the time unit 'hafta' (week).
Common Mistakes
Using -dır for affirmative actions that are completely finished.
Dün iki saattir ders çalıştım.Dün iki saat ders çalıştım.If an affirmative action is finished (like studying yesterday), do not use -dır. Use the bare time expression instead. However, you can use it with negative past verbs.
Using -dır with a specific starting point instead of a duration.
Dündür yağmur yağıyor.Dünden beri yağmur yağıyor.You cannot attach -dır to specific points in time like 'dün' (yesterday). Use -den beri for starting points.
Using 'için' to express duration.
İki saat için bekledim.İki saattir bekliyorum.In Turkish, için mostly means 'for the purpose of'. It can name a planned length of time, but it does not say how long an action has lasted or did last.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use the '-dır' suffix for duration, you need to understand how to apply four-way vowel harmony and consonant assimilation to the suffix. Additionally, you must be familiar with numbers and time-related nouns, as this pattern typically attaches to them to indicate how long something has been happening.
- Vowel Harmony: Rounded and Unrounded
The suffix -dır follows four-way vowel harmony ( -dır, -dir, -dur, -dür) based on the last vowel of the time duration.
Level 1 - Consonant Assimilation
The initial 'd' in the suffix changes to 't' (-tır, -tir, -tur, -tür) if the time word ends in a voiceless consonant (e.g., 'saat-tir').
Level 1 - Numbers
This pattern is used with numbers and time units to express the length of time an action has been occurring.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- -den beriSince
Both express time, but -den beri focuses on the starting point ('since'), while -dIr focuses on the duration ('for').
Level 2 - -iyorPresent Continuous
The present continuous tense is the most common tense used with -dır to show an action is still ongoing.
Level 1 - -iyorduPast Continuous
Used with -dır to describe an action that had been ongoing for a duration up until a specific point in the past.
Level 4 - -dir (resmî üslup)-dir in Formal Statements
While identical in form, the duration suffix -dır is distinct from the formal copula/certainty marker.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice -dır (süre) in Bubblegum
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