ne kadar ... -se de

However Much

Level 5

Use ne kadar ... -se de to express that even if an action is performed to a high degree or intensity, the result in the second clause remains unchanged. It translates to 'no matter how much' or 'however much'.

How It Works

The ne kadar ... -se de construction is a universal concessive conditional. It suggests that even at the maximum possible level of an action, the outcome is contrary to expectation.

1. Structure:
The pattern follows this order: ne kadar + [Verb Stem] + -se/-sa + [Personal Suffix] + de/da.

  • ne kadar: Usually starts the clause.
  • -se/-sa: Follows two-way vowel harmony.
  • de/da: Must be written as a separate word and follows vowel harmony. The word bile can replace de/da for increased emphasis (e.g., ne kadar çalışsa bile).

2. Formal Variant:
In formal or written Turkish, the word her is often added to the beginning: Her ne kadar ... -se de. This functions identically but adds a layer of emphasis and formality.

3. Usage with Adjectives:
To say 'no matter how [adjective]', use the auxiliary verb olmak:
Ne kadar zor olsa da... (However difficult it may be...)

4. Colloquial Reduplication:
Native speakers often use a reduplicated verb form to express the same idea without the de/da particle: Ne kadar uğraşsan uğraş... (No matter how much you try...).

5. Nuance:
While -se bile means a general 'even if', this specific pattern focuses on the quantity or intensity of the action. It is common in both formal and informal Turkish.

Examples (4)

  1. Ne kadar uğraşsa da kapıyı açamadı.

    However hard he tried, he couldn't open the door.

    Word by Word: How much he-try-if also the-door he-could-not-open.

    Here, 'ne kadar' emphasizes the intensity of the effort (trying), but the result (not opening) remains the same.

  2. Ona ne kadar anlatsam da beni anlamıyor.

    No matter how much I explain to him, he doesn't understand me.

    Word by Word: To-him how much I-explain-if also me he-not-understands.

    The speaker emphasizes that the amount of explaining does not change the outcome of the listener's lack of understanding.

  3. Ne kadar erken çıksak da trafiğe yakalandık.

    No matter how early we left, we got caught in traffic.

    Word by Word: How much early we-leave-if also to-traffic we-were-caught.

    This shows that the degree of 'earliness' was not enough to avoid the traffic.

  4. Hava ne kadar soğuk olsa da dışarı çıkacağım.

    No matter how cold the weather is, I will go out.

    Word by Word: Weather how much cold be-if also outside I-will-go-out.

    Using 'olsa da' allows the pattern to work with the adjective 'soğuk' (cold).

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the 'de/da' particle.

    Ne kadar çalışsan sınavı geçemezsin.
    Ne kadar çalışsan da sınavı geçemezsin.

    Without 'de/da', the sentence sounds like an incomplete or confusing condition. The 'de/da' provides the necessary 'even though' force.

  • Attaching 'de/da' to the verb as a suffix.

    Ne kadar uğraşsada olmadı.
    Ne kadar uğraşsa da olmadı.

    In this construction, 'de/da' is a conjunction and must always be written as a separate word.

  • Changing 'de' to 'te' after voiceless consonants.

    Ne kadar çalışsak ta başaramadık.
    Ne kadar çalışsak da başaramadık.

    Unlike the locative suffix, the conjunction 'de/da' never changes to 'te/ta', even after words ending in voiceless consonants like 'k'.

How It Connects

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

ne kadar ... -se deLevel 5However Much

Learn This First

The pattern 'ne kadar ... -se de' is a concessive structure meaning 'however much' or 'no matter how much'. To understand it, you must first be familiar with the conditional suffix (-se/-sa) and how the particle 'de' functions as a conjunction to mean 'even'. Additionally, knowing the basic meaning of 'ne kadar' (how much) is essential as it sets the scale for the concession.

Words in This Pattern

ne kadar-sa