-den beri

Since

Level 2

Use -den beri to describe an action or state that started at a specific time in the past and continues into the present. It is the Turkish equivalent of 'since'.

How It Works

The construction -den beri is essential for anchoring an event to its starting point.

1. Formation:
Take a noun representing a point in time (like 'yesterday') or a duration (like 'three hours') and add the ablative suffix:

  • -den / -dan: After vowels or voiced consonants (e.g., dünden).
  • -ten / -tan: After voiceless consonants (e.g., saatten).

2. Usage with Tenses:
Because -den beri implies the action is still relevant, it is most commonly paired with:

3. Point vs. Duration:
Unlike English 'since', Turkish -den beri can be used for both specific points (Monday) and durations (three days). For durations, you can also use the suffix -dir, but -dir cannot be used for specific points in time.

4. Advanced 'Since':
To use 'since' with a full verb (e.g., 'since I arrived'), you will later learn to use the specific verb suffixes -(y)eli or -diğinden beri.

Examples (6)

  1. Sabahtan beri seni bekliyorum.

    I have been waiting for you since the morning.

    Word by Word: Morning-from since you-acc I-am-waiting.

    Here, 'sabah' ends in a voiceless consonant 'h', so the suffix becomes '-tan' due to consonant assimilation.

  2. Dünden beri çok hastayım.

    I have been very sick since yesterday.

    Word by Word: Yesterday-from since very sick-I-am.

    The state of being sick started yesterday and continues now.

  3. 2015'ten beri bu evde yaşıyoruz.

    We have been living in this house since 2015.

    Word by Word: 2015-from since this house-in we-are-living.

    Numbers also take the ablative case before 'beri'. Since 2015 ends in 'beş' (5), which has a voiceless 'ş', we use '-ten'.

  4. Taşındığımız günden beri komşuları görmedik.

    We haven't seen the neighbors since the day we moved.

    Word by Word: Moved-our day-from since neighbors-acc we-did-not-see.

    This uses the negative simple past to show an action has not happened since a specific point.

  5. Üç saatten beri ders çalışıyor.

    He has been studying for three hours.

    Word by Word: Three hour-from since lesson he-is-working.

    This shows '-den beri' used with a duration. It is similar to using 'üç saattir'.

  6. Çocukluğumdan beri piyano çalıyorum.

    I have been playing the piano since my childhood.

    Word by Word: Childhood-my-from since piano I-am-playing.

    The starting point is the noun 'çocukluk' (childhood) with a possessive ending.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the ablative case suffix.

    Salı beri buradayım.
    Salıdan beri buradayım.

    The word 'beri' cannot stand alone with a noun; it requires the noun to be in the ablative case (-den/-dan).

  • Thinking '-den beri' cannot be used for durations.

    İki saattir beri çalışıyorum.
    İki saatten beri çalışıyorum.

    While -dir is very common for durations (for two hours), '-den beri' is also grammatically correct for durations. However, you must not use both together.

  • Using 'beri' to mean 'because' (causality).

    Hasta olduğumdan beri gelemedim.
    Hasta olduğum için gelemedim.

    In English, 'since' can mean 'because'. In Turkish, '-den beri' is strictly for time. For causality, use için or -diği için.

How It Connects

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

-den beriLevel 2Since

Learn This First

To understand '-den beri' (since), you must first learn the ablative case (-den/-dan) because this pattern functions as a postpositional phrase attached to that specific case. Additionally, you need to be familiar with vowel harmony and consonant assimilation to correctly attach the suffix to different types of nouns.

Words in This Pattern

beri-den