-ecekti
Was Going to
The Future in the Past (-ecekti) describes a past intention, expectation, or a plan that was interrupted. It is most commonly used to explain why something didn't occur.
How It Works
The -ecekti construction is formed as follows:
[Verb Stem] + [Future -(y)AcAk] + [Past -DI] + [Personal Ending]
- Vowel Harmony: The future suffix follows two-way vowel harmony (-ecek or -acak).
- Buffer Consonant: If the verb stem ends in a vowel, use the buffer -y- before the future suffix (e.g., oku-y-acaktı).
- Consonant Hardening: The 'k' at the end of the future suffix triggers consonant assimilation, changing the 'd' of the past suffix into a 't' (e.g., gidecekti).
- Negative Form: Use the negative suffix before the future suffix: [Verb] + [mA] + [yAcAk] + [tI] + [Ending] (e.g., gelmeyecekti).
- Question Form: The past suffix attaches to the question particle with a buffer -y-: [Verb] + [AcAk] + [mI] + [y] + [dI] + [Ending] (e.g., gidecek miydin?).
- Personal Endings: This pattern uses Type 2 endings. For the 3rd person plural, both gideceklerdi and gidecektiler are correct, though gideceklerdi is more common.
Usage Nuances:
1. Unfulfilled Plans: The most common use for actions that were intended but didn't happen.
2. Past Expectations: Describing what was planned or expected at a specific point in the past.
3. Narrative Future: Used in storytelling to describe events that were destined to happen from the perspective of the past.
4. Counterfactual Conditionals: It acts as the 'would have' result in unreal conditions where the 'if' clause is in the past (e.g., 'If I had known, I would have come').
Examples (6)
- Dün size gelecektik ama misafir geldi.
We were going to come to your place yesterday, but guests arrived.
Word by Word: Yesterday to-you we-were-going-to-come but guest came.
The use of -ecektik shows a planned action that was cancelled due to an interruption.
- Tam seni arayacaktım, telefonum kapandı.
I was just about to call you, [but] my phone turned off.
Word by Word: Just you I-was-going-to-call, my-phone closed-itself.
Adding 'tam' (just/exactly) emphasizes that the intention was immediate.
- Param olsaydı o arabayı alacaktım.
If I had money, I would have bought that car.
Word by Word: My-money if-it-existed that car-accusative I-would-have-bought.
In counterfactual conditionals, -ecekti functions as 'would have' to describe a result that didn't happen because the condition wasn't met.
- Sana bir şey söyleyecektim ama unuttum.
I was going to tell you something, but I forgot.
Word by Word: To-you one thing I-was-going-to-tell but I-forgot.
A very common conversational use for lost thoughts.
- Dışarı çıkacaktın, neden hâlâ evdesin?
You were going to go out, why are you still at home?
Word by Word: Outside you-were-going-to-go-out, why still you-are-at-home?
The speaker is questioning a past intention that hasn't been acted upon.
- Beni beklemeyecek miydin?
Were you not going to wait for me?
Word by Word: Me to-wait-not question-particle-past-you?
In questions, the past suffix attaches to the question particle 'mi' using a buffer -y-.
Common Mistakes
Using the wrong 1st person plural ending (-iz instead of -k).
Biz yarın gidecektiz.Biz yarın gidecektik.Because this is a compound tense ending in the past suffix -di, it must use the past tense personal endings where 'we' is represented by -k.
Softening the 'k' to 'ğ' before the past suffix.
Gideceğti.Gidecekti.Consonant softening (k to ğ) only happens when a suffix starts with a vowel. Since -ti starts with a consonant, the 'k' remains.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The '-ecekti' pattern (Past Future) is a compound tense formed by combining the Future Tense suffix with the Past Tense of the copula. To understand it, you must first be comfortable with the future tense, the past tense of 'to be', and how person endings are applied to these combined forms.
- -(y)di (ad cümlesinde geçmiş)Past of Sentences Without a Verb
The -(y)di suffix is attached to the future tense to shift the perspective to the past ('was').
Level 2 - -eceğim (k → ğ)Future Person Endings
Understanding how the future tense suffix interacts with person endings and consonant changes is necessary for correct conjugation.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- -iyorduPast Continuous
-iyordu means 'was doing' (ongoing action), while -ecekti means 'was going to do' (intention).
Level 4 - -irdiUsed to
-irdi (Aorist Past) describes habits ('used to'), whereas -ecekti describes a specific plan.
Level 4 - -miştiPast Perfect
-mişti (Pluperfect) describes an action completed before another past point, not an intention.
Level 4 - -(y)ecek/-(y)acakFuture Tense
This is the base future tense suffix used to build the 'was going to' construction.
Level 2 - -ti/-tıPast Ending After Voiceless Consonants
This past tense suffix is attached to the future suffix to shift the perspective to the past.
Level 2 - -ecekmişReported Future
This is the 'reported' version, used when you heard from someone else that a plan existed.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice -ecekti in Bubblegum
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