-dığı takdirde

In the Event That

Level 6

The pattern -dığı takdirde is the formal equivalent of the standard conditional -se/-sa. It is used in contracts, official rules, and bureaucratic writing to specify a condition that triggers a particular consequence.

How It Works

While everyday Turkish uses -se/-sa for 'if,' formal Turkish often uses -dığı takdirde to establish legal or procedural conditions.

Key characteristics include:

  • Register: It is strictly formal. You will see it in terms of service, employment contracts, and academic papers, but rarely hear it in casual conversation.
  • Subject Case: The subject of the condition usually takes the genitive case (e.g., sizin yaptığınız). However, in very formal or general legal contexts where the subject is indefinite, the plain form is sometimes used (e.g., ödeme yapılmadığı).
  • Morphology: The -DIK suffix follows 4-way vowel harmony and consonant assimilation. The final 'k' undergoes consonant softening to 'ğ' before a vowel-starting possessive (e.g., yaptığ-ı), but remains 'k' in the 3rd person plural (yaptık-ları).
  • Negation: Add the negative suffix directly to the verb stem (e.g., ödenmediği takdirde).
  • Fixed Expression: A very common related phrase is aksi takdirde, which means 'otherwise' or 'in the contrary case.'
  • Nuance: It implies a specific trigger. Unlike 'if,' which can be hypothetical, this pattern usually points to a rule-based outcome like a penalty or a right.

Examples (4)

  1. Ödeme yapılmadığı takdirde sözleşme feshedilecektir.

    In the event that payment is not made, the contract will be terminated.

    Word by Word: Payment not-being-made in-the-event-of contract will-be-terminated.

    This is a classic legal sentence. The passive verb 'yapılmak' is used with the negative '-ma' and the '-dığı' pattern.

  2. Belgeleri teslim etmediğiniz takdirde başvurunuz reddedilir.

    Should you fail to submit the documents, your application will be rejected.

    Word by Word: Documents delivery you-not-doing in-the-event-of your-application is-rejected.

    Note the second-person plural possessive '-iniz' attached to the participle to match the subject 'you'.

  3. Tarafların uzlaşamadığı takdirde mahkemeye başvurulur.

    In the event that the parties cannot reach a compromise, an application is made to the court.

    Word by Word: Parties-genitive not-being-able-to-compromise in-the-event-of to-court it-is-applied.

    This uses the inability suffix (-ama) and demonstrates the use of the genitive case on the subject 'taraflar'.

  4. Yolcuların zamanında varmadıkları takdirde biletleri iptal edilir.

    In the event that the passengers do not arrive on time, their tickets are cancelled.

    Word by Word: Passengers-genitive on-time not-arriving-plural in-the-event-of their-tickets are-cancelled.

    In the 3rd person plural, the 'k' in '-dık' does not undergo consonant softening because it is followed by the plural suffix '-ları'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the pattern in casual, everyday conversation.

    Aç olduğun takdirde yemek ye.
    Açsan yemek ye.

    Using '-dığı takdirde' for simple daily needs sounds unnaturally stiff or robotic. Use the standard -se/-sa instead.

  • Forgetting the possessive suffix on the participle.

    Geldiği takdirde ben de giderim. (When meaning 'If YOU come')
    Geldiğiniz takdirde ben de giderim.

    The participle must have a possessive suffix that agrees with the subject. 'Geldiği' implies 'he/she/it,' while 'Geldiğiniz' implies 'you (plural/polite).'

How It Connects

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

-dığı takdirdeLevel 6In the Event That

Learn This First

To understand '-dığı takdirde', you first need to be comfortable with the -dik participle (object participle) and how it takes possessive endings to match the subject. Since this pattern expresses a condition ('in the event that' or 'should X happen'), familiarity with the basic conditional mood (-se/-sa) helps in understanding its function in formal and legal contexts.

Words in This Pattern

takdir-dik