-(y)ecek/-(y)acak

Future Tense

Level 2

The Turkish future tense suffix -(y)ecek / -(y)acak is used for actions that are planned, scheduled, or predicted with a high degree of certainty. It is the equivalent of 'going to' or 'will' in English when a plan exists.

How It Works

The future tense is used for definite plans and strong predictions.

1. Formation:

  • Verb stems whose last vowel is a back vowel (a, ı, o, u) take -acak.
  • Verb stems whose last vowel is a front vowel (e, i, ö, ü) take -ecek.
  • If the verb ends in a vowel, add the buffer consonant -y- before the suffix (e.g., oku-y-acak).

2. Consonant Mutations:

  • k to ğ: When adding personal endings for 'I' or 'We', the 'k' at the end of the future suffix changes to 'ğ' (e.g., geleceğim). See Future Person Endings.
  • t to d: For verbs like gitmek, etmek, and tatmak, the final 't' changes to 'd' before the future suffix (e.g., gidecek, edecek, tadacak).

3. Vowel Narrowing:
The verbs demek and yemek undergo vowel narrowing before the future suffix: ye- becomes yiyecek and de- becomes diyecek.

4. Negative and Question Forms:

  • Negative: Add the negative suffix followed by a buffer -y- before the future suffix: [Verb] + -ma/me + -y- + -acak/ecek (e.g., yapmayacak).
  • Question: Place the question word after the future-tensed verb. Personal suffixes attach to the question particle (e.g., gelecek misin?), except for the 3rd person plural where the suffix stays on the verb (e.g., gelecekler mi?). See Future Questions.

5. Usage Nuance:
While English uses 'will' for spontaneous decisions, Turkish speakers usually prefer the Aorist for such moments. The future tense often suggests a plan or a firm intention. In casual speech, the Present Continuous is also frequently used for near-future planned actions (e.g., Yarın geliyorum - I am coming tomorrow).

Examples (6)

  1. Yarın akşam size geleceğiz.

    We will come to (visit) you tomorrow evening.

    Word by Word: Tomorrow evening to-you we-will-come.

    Shows a planned visit using the 1st person plural ending. Note the 'k' changing to 'ğ'.

  2. Bu projeyi haftaya bitirecekler.

    They will finish this project next week.

    Word by Word: This project-acc next-week they-will-finish.

    Demonstrates a scheduled task using the 3rd person plural.

  3. Seni asla unutmayacağım.

    I will never forget you.

    Word by Word: You-acc never I-will-not-forget.

    Shows the negative future form (-ma + -y- + -acak) and the softening of 'k' to 'ğ' for the 1st person singular.

  4. O kitabı okuyacak mısın?

    Are you going to read that book?

    Word by Word: That book-acc will-read [question] you?

    Shows the future tense in a question format.

  5. Yarın akşam dışarıda yemek yiyeceğiz.

    We will eat food outside tomorrow evening.

    Word by Word: Tomorrow evening outside food we-will-eat.

    Demonstrates vowel narrowing where 'ye-' becomes 'yiyecek'.

  6. Oraya otobüsle gideceğim.

    I will go there by bus.

    Word by Word: To-there with-bus I-will-go.

    Shows the 't' to 'd' mutation in the verb 'gitmek' before the future suffix.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting to soften the 'k' to 'ğ' in the 1st person.

    Yarın gelecekim.
    Yarın geleceğim.

    When a suffix starting with a vowel (like -im) follows -ecek, the 'k' must become 'ğ'.

  • Choosing the future tense for a quick decision.

    Bir kahve alacağım.
    Bir kahve alırım.

    Both are fine when you order. The future tense sounds like a plan you already made, while the Aorist (-er/-ar) sounds like a quick, natural choice.

How It Connects

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-(y)ecek/-(y)acakLevel 2Future Tense

Learn This First

To learn the future tense, you need to understand how vowel harmony dictates the suffix form, how to use the buffer letter -y- for verbs ending in vowels, and how consonant softening affects the suffix when adding personal endings.

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Words in This Pattern

-ecek-acak-yecek