-iyordu

Past Continuous

Level 4

The Past Continuous tense (-iyordu) describes actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past or past habits. It is formed by combining the present continuous marker with the simple past marker.

How It Works

The -iyordu tense is a compound tense used to set the scene or describe a continuous process in the past. Because it uses the -du suffix, it implies the speaker witnessed the action or is stating it as a definite fact.

1. Formation and Vowel Rules:
The suffix -iyor is unique because the 'o' is invariant and never changes. However, the connective vowel that precedes it follows four-way vowel harmony (ı, i, u, ü).

  • Stem Vowel Change: If a verb stem ends in the wide vowels 'a' or 'e', these vowels are narrowed before adding the suffix. For example, bekle-mek becomes bekliyordu. See Stem Vowel Change Before -iyor for more details.
  • Consonant Mutation: For specific common verbs like gitmek and etmek, the final 't' changes to 'd' when followed by this suffix (e.g., gidiyordu, ediyordu). See t Becomes d in gitmek and etmek.

2. Negation:
When making the verb negative, the negative suffix undergoes a vowel change (narrowing) to -mı, -mi, -mu, or -mü before the -yor suffix.

  • Gel-mi-yor-du-m (I was not coming)
  • Bak-mı-yor-du-k (We were not looking)

3. Usage Scenarios:

  • Interrupted Actions: Describing what was happening when another event occurred.
  • Simultaneous Actions: Describing two actions happening at the same time in the past. (Ben yemek pişiriyordum, o kitap okuyordu - I was cooking while he was reading.)
  • Interrupted Process: Describing an action that was already in progress or a process that was underway when it was cut short. (Seni arıyordum ama telefonum bozuldu - I was [in the process of] calling you, but my phone broke.)
  • Past Habits: Unlike the used to (aorist past), which describes timeless or general habits, -iyordu is preferred for habits limited to a specific period in the past.

4. Questions and Plurality:
In questions, the question word mu is placed after -iyor, followed by a buffer -y- and the past suffix: Okuyor muydun? (Were you reading?).

For the third person plural, the suffix -lar/-ler is attached to the verb stem before the question particle (izliyorlar mıydı?) or the past marker (izliyorlardı). Alternatively, it can follow the past marker in the question form (izliyor muydular?).

Examples (6)

  1. Dün akşam saat sekizde yemek yiyorduk.

    Yesterday evening at eight o'clock, we were eating dinner.

    Word by Word: Yesterday evening hour at-eight food we-were-eating.

    This shows a specific action in progress at a specific time in the past.

  2. Tam evden çıkıyordum ki telefon çaldı.

    I was just leaving the house when the phone rang.

    Word by Word: Exactly from-house I-was-leaving that phone it-rang.

    Here, the past continuous sets the background for a sudden event (the phone ringing).

  3. Seni arıyordum ama vaktim yoktu.

    I was calling you, but I didn't have time.

    Word by Word: You I-was-calling but my-time there-was-not.

    This demonstrates an action that was in progress or a process that was underway but was cut short or not completed.

  4. O zamanlar Ankara'da yaşıyorduk.

    We were living in Ankara at that time.

    Word by Word: That times in-Ankara we-were-living.

    Describes a continuous state or habit limited to a specific timeframe in the past.

  5. Sen beni dinlemiyor muydun?

    Were you not listening to me?

    Word by Word: You me not-listening were-you?

    A negative question showing the vowel narrowing in the negative suffix and the placement of the question particle.

  6. Onlar televizyon izliyorlardı / izliyor muydular?

    They were watching television / Were they watching?

    Word by Word: They television they-were-watching / watching were-they?

    Shows the flexible placement of the plural suffix -lar/-ler in statements and questions.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the wrong personal ending type.

    Geliyordurum
    Geliyordum

    When combining tenses with the past marker -du, you must use Type 2 personal endings (m, n, k) rather than Type 1 (um, sun, uz).

  • Incorrect question particle placement.

    Okuyordun mu?
    Okuyor muydun?

    The question particle 'mu' must come after the continuous marker '-iyor' and before the past marker '-du'.

How It Connects

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

-iyorduLevel 4Past Continuous

Learn This First

The Past Continuous (-iyordu) is formed by combining the Present Continuous marker (-iyor) with the past tense copula (-(y)di). To understand this pattern, you must first be comfortable with how the continuous stem is formed and how the past tense endings are applied to it.

Words in This Pattern

-iyor-di