Gittikçe

Gittikçe is a Turkish adverbial conjunction used to express gradual change or increase that accompanies an ongoing action or passage of time. It roughly translates as "as it goes" or "more and more," and it introduces a subordinate clause that describes how the situation evolves as the main action continues.

The form is derived from the verb gitmek (to go) and the relational suffix -dikçe, which signals a progressive or comparative relationship. In Turkish grammar, gittikçe functions as a fixed expression that binds two clauses together to indicate that the degree of a state or activity changes in proportion to the ongoing action.

Usage is flexible: gittikçe can attach to various tenses and subjects. Examples include:

- Gittikçe daha iyi anlıyorum. (I understand it better as it goes along.)

- Gittikçe zorlaşıyor. (It is getting harder as it goes.)

- Zamanla gittikçe daha çok insan katıldı. (More and more people joined as time passed.)

Notes on nuance and style: gittikçe emphasizes a natural, continuous progression rather than a sudden change. It is commonly found in formal and informal Turkish, including spoken discourse, journalism, and literature. The expression can be contrasted with other time-progressive phrases such as zamanla or her geçen gün, which convey a similar idea with slight stylistic differences.

See also Turkish grammar, adverbial clauses, and the -dikçe suffix.