-diği zaman / -diğinde

When (With a Verb)

Level 4

The pattern -diği zaman or -diğinde is the standard way to create 'when' clauses in Turkish. It identifies a specific point in time or a condition for an action.

How It Works

To form this pattern, follow these steps:

1. Verb Stem
2. -DIK Suffix: Subject to four-way vowel harmony (-dık, -dik, -duk, -dük). If the verb stem ends in a voiceless consonant, the 'd' changes to 't' due to consonant assimilation (e.g., git-tiğinde).
3. Possessive Suffix: Matches the subject (e.g., -ım, -ın, -ı). Note that the 'k' in -dik usually changes to 'ğ' due to consonant softening.
4. Ending: Either add the word zaman OR the locative suffix -de/-da. If using -de/-da, you must use the buffer consonant -n- after 3rd person possessives (e.g., -diğinde).

Usage Nuances:

  • Ambiguity: In the -diğinde form, the 2nd person singular (sen) and 3rd person singular (o) often look identical (e.g., geldiğinde can mean 'when you come' or 'when he/she comes'). Use personal pronouns if the context is unclear.
  • Subject Marking: Unlike -ken, which remains the same regardless of the subject, this pattern explicitly identifies who is performing the action through possessive endings.
  • Tense: It works for past, present, and habitual events. It can also refer to the future, as in Eve geldiğimde seni arayacağım (I will call you when I get home). The -eceği pattern is another option for planned future events.
  • Timing: Unlike -ince, which implies 'as soon as', this pattern focuses on the specific time frame.

Examples (5)

  1. Eve geldiğimde seni arayacağım.

    I will call you when I get home.

    Word by Word: Home-to come-my-when you-to call-will-I.

    Even though the main verb is future, the -diğinde form is used here because the action of 'arriving' is treated as a completed point in time.

  2. Yağmur yağdığı zaman dışarı çıkmam.

    When it rains, I don't go out.

    Word by Word: Rain fall-its time outside go-out-not-I.

    This shows a habitual or general truth using the 'zaman' variation.

  3. Onu gördüğünde ne dedin?

    What did you say when you saw him?

    Word by Word: Him see-your-when what said-you?

    This refers to a specific completed event in the past.

  4. Tatile gittiğinde beni unutma.

    Don't forget me when you go on holiday.

    Word by Word: Holiday-to go-your-when me forget-not.

    Note how the 'd' in -diğinde changes to 't' (gittiğinde) due to consonant assimilation.

  5. Türkiye'ye gittiğimizde çok kebap yedik.

    When we went to Turkey, we ate a lot of kebab.

    Word by Word: Turkey-to go-our-when much kebab ate-we.

    The possessive suffix -imiz (we) is attached to the participle to match the subject.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting the buffer 'n' before the locative case.

    O geldiğide başladık.
    O geldiğinde başladık.

    When adding the locative case (-de) after a 3rd person possessive suffix (-i), you must insert the buffer 'n'.

  • Using the wrong possessive suffix for the subject.

    Ben geldiğinde kimse yoktu.
    Ben geldiğimde kimse yoktu.

    The participle must agree with the subject. Since the subject is 'I' (Ben), you must use the 1st person possessive -im.

How It Connects

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

-diği zaman / -diğindeLevel 4When (With a Verb)

Learn This First

To understand '-diği zaman' or '-diğinde', you first need to be comfortable with the -dik participle (object participle), as this forms the core of the expression. Additionally, since these patterns function like possessive phrases (e.g., 'at the time of my coming'), you must understand possessive endings and the locative case (-de/-da) which marks the specific time of the event.

Words in This Pattern

-dikzaman