Expressing Manner with 'erek / arak' — Turkish Grammar

The suffix `-erek / -arak` is attached to a verb stem to form an adverb. It primarily describes the manner in which the main action of a sentence is performed, answering the question "How?" (). This structure connects two actions that are performed by the same subject.

Formation and Vowel Harmony

This suffix follows the rules of two-way vowel harmony, changing based on the last vowel of the verb stem.

If the last vowel in the verb stem is a front vowel (e, i, ö, ü), add -erek.

Gülerek içeri girdi.
He entered smiling.
Düşünerek karar vermelisin.
You should decide by thinking.

If the last vowel in the verb stem is a back vowel (a, ı, o, u), add -arak.

Koşarak otobüse yetişti.
He caught the bus by running.
Bağırarak konuştu.
He spoke by shouting.

When a verb stem ends in a vowel, a buffer letter -y- is inserted before the suffix, creating -yerek or -yarak.

Müzik dinleyerek çalışırım.
I work while listening to music.
Taksiyi bekleyerek zaman kaybettik.
We lost time by waiting for the taxi.

Usage and Meaning

While its core meaning relates to manner, `-erek / -arak` can be used in a few related contexts.

Describing Manner

This is the most common use. The action with the suffix explains how the main verb's action was carried out.

Çocuk zıplayarak yürüyor.
The child is walking by jumping.
Soruyu dikkatlice okuyarak cevapladı.
She answered the question by reading it carefully.

Simultaneous Actions

It can also describe two actions happening at the same time, performed by the same person. The `-erek / -arak` action is often the background activity.

Televizyon izleyerek yemek yiyor.
He is eating while watching television.
Şarkı söyleyerek duş alıyor.
She is taking a shower while singing.

Negation with '-meyerek / -mayarak'

To express that an action is done by not doing something else, the negative suffix `-me / -ma` is added to the verb stem first. A buffer `-y-` is always required. This form often translates to "without ...ing".

The form is -mayarak for verbs with back vowels.

Kahvaltı yapmayarak evden çıktı.
He left home without having breakfast.

The form is -meyerek for verbs with front vowels.

Bana haber vermeyerek gitmiş.
He apparently left without letting me know.
Hiçbir şey söylemeyerek odadan ayrıldı.
She departed from the room without saying anything.

Requirement of a Single Subject

A critical rule for this structure is that the subject performing both the action with `-erek / -arak` and the action of the main verb must be the same.

Ben yürüyerek işe gidiyorum.
I go to work by walking. (I walk, and I go to work).
O, ağlayarak odasına koştu.
She ran to her room crying. (She was crying, and she ran).

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