cümledeyken

Cümledeyken is a Turkish grammar term describing the adverbial clause of time formed with the suffix -ken on a verb stem, meaning "while" or "as." The -ken clause expresses actions or circumstances that occur at the same time as the action in the main clause and is commonly used in both written and spoken Turkish.

Formation and use: The verb stem of the -ken clause is the base form without personal endings; adding -ken yields a subordinate clause. The -ken clause can come before or after the main clause; when it precedes the main clause, a comma usually separates the clauses. The subject of the -ken clause is generally the same as the subject of the main clause unless stated otherwise.

Examples: "Yemek yerken su içti." (He drank water while eating.) "Dışarı çıkarken yağmur yağıyordu." (It was raining when we went out.) "Dersi dinlerken not aldı." (He took notes while listening to the lesson.)

Nuances: The -ken form primarily conveys simultaneity and setting; it is not used for future actions and is distinct from other time clauses such as "dığında" (when) or causal constructions. In more complex sentences, multiple -ken clauses can appear, and punctuation or restatement may be used to avoid ambiguity.

See also: -ken clauses are a type of Turkish adverbial clause. They are often discussed alongside other time clauses formed with expressions like "-diği zaman," "-ince," or "iken," which can convey similar or nuanced temporal relations in different contexts.