ister ... ister
Whether ... or
Use ister ... ister to show that the outcome is the same regardless of which option is chosen. It translates to 'whether... or...' and emphasizes that the speaker is indifferent to the choice.
How It Works
The word ister is technically the aorist form of the verb istemek (to want), literally meaning 'he/she/it wants.' However, in this fixed pattern, it loses its literal meaning and acts as a conjunction.
1. Usage with Verbs:
When used with actions, the verbs following each ister are typically in the imperative mood. To say 'whether you do it or not,' you use the positive and negative imperative: ister yap ister yapma.
2. Usage with Nouns and Adjectives:
You can place ister directly before nouns or adjectives. Often, the verb olmak (to be) is added in the imperative form (olsun) to clarify the state, but it is not always mandatory if the context is clear.
3. Nuance vs. Other Conjunctions:
Unlike ya ... ya (which presents a choice where one must be picked), ister ... ister focuses on indifference. It suggests that the speaker doesn't care which option is picked, or that the result remains unchanged.
Examples (4)
- İster bugün gel, ister yarın; ben hep evdeyim.
Whether you come today or tomorrow, I am always at home.
Word by Word: Whether today come, whether tomorrow; I always at home-am.
The speaker is indifferent to the timing; the result (being at home) is the same.
- İster inan, ister inanma, bu olay gerçekten yaşandı.
Believe it or not, this event actually happened.
Word by Word: Whether believe, whether believe-not, this event really lived-was.
This uses the positive and negative imperative to create the 'whether or not' meaning.
- İster zengin ol, ister fakir, herkes bir gün ölür.
Whether you are rich or poor, everyone dies one day.
Word by Word: Whether rich be, whether poor, everyone one day dies.
Here, the pattern is used with adjectives and the imperative form of 'to be' (ol).
- İster çay iç, ister kahve; seçim senin.
Drink either tea or coffee; the choice is yours.
Word by Word: Whether tea drink, whether coffee; choice yours.
Shows indifference toward the specific beverage chosen.
Common Mistakes
Using 'istersen' instead of 'ister'.
İstersen gel istersen gelme.İster gel ister gelme.'İstersen gel istersen gelme' is correct Turkish, but it means 'come if you want, stay away if you want'. For 'whether you come or not', the fixed pair is 'ister ... ister'.
Using the infinitive (-mek/-mak) after ister.
İster okumak ister yazmak.İster oku ister yaz.When expressing actions in this pattern, verbs are usually in a command or wish form, such as 'ister oku ister yaz' or 'ister okusun ister yazsın', not the infinitive form.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The 'ister ... ister' pattern is a correlative conjunction used to express that the outcome is the same regardless of which option is chosen. It is typically used with verbs in the imperative mood (commands) or with nouns to present alternatives.
- -me/-ma (olumsuz emir)Negative Commands
This pattern is frequently used to contrast an action with its negative (e.g., 'ister gel ister gelme'), requiring knowledge of negative commands.
Level 1 - ya ... yaEither ... or
Understanding basic correlative conjunctions like 'ya ... ya' (either ... or) provides the conceptual foundation for the 'whether ... or' structure.
Level 3
Related Patterns
- hem ... hemBoth ... and
Another correlative conjunction, but it means 'both... and' rather than 'whether... or'.
Level 3 - ne ... neNeither ... nor
The negative counterpart, meaning 'neither... nor'.
Level 3 - gerek ... gerek(se)Both ... and (Formal)
A more formal synonym used in academic or journalistic writing to mean 'both... and' or 'whether... or'.
Level 5 - Simple Commands
The imperative mood is the most common verb form used following the 'ister' conjunction.
Level 1 - -ir/-er/-r (geniş zaman)The Aorist Tense
The word 'ister' itself is derived from the aorist (geniş zaman) form of the verb 'istemek'.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice ister ... ister in Bubblegum
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