Future Tense (-ecek / -acak)
A2
Verbs
The future tense suffix -ecek / -acak attaches to the verb stem and marks events expected or planned to occur after the speech moment. The suffix follows two-way vowel harmony and combines with personal endings.
1. Function
The future tense expresses future actions, intentions, scheduled events, or predictions.
The tense marker is -ecek / -acak; person is encoded through personal endings.
2. Forms
a. Vowel Harmony (A → a / e)
Back vowels (a, ı, o, u) → -acak
Front vowels (e, i, ö, ü) → -ecek
b. Personal Endings
1st singular: -Im → -acağım / -eceğim
2nd singular: -sIn → -acaksın / -eceksin
3rd singular: -∅ → -acak / -ecek
1st plural: -Iz → -acağız / -eceğiz
2nd plural: -sInIz → -acaksınız / -eceksiniz
3rd plural: -lAr → -acaklar / -ecekler
3. Consonant Behavior
a. Stem-final alternation
Verb stems ending in t soften to d before the vowel-initial future suffix.
Examples:
git → gidecek
et → edecek
tat → tadacak
Other voiceless consonants do not soften:
bak → bakacak
çık → çıkacak
kok → kokacak
iç → içecek
b. Suffix-final alternation
The final consonant k of the future suffix softens to ğ when followed by vowel-initial personal endings:
-ecek + im → eceğim
-ecek + iz → eceğiz
-acak + ım → acağım
-acak + ız → acağız
This alternation is internal to the future suffix.
4. Structure
The morphological sequence is:
verb stem → future suffix → personal ending
No external buffer consonant is inserted between the verb stem and the future suffix.
Examples:
gel + ecek → gelecek
oku + yacak → okuyacak (Forms such as okuyacak reflect regular surface alternations of the verb stem.)
5. Usage
The future tense is used for:
• planned actions
• expectations
• predictions
• arrangements and schedules
Its temporal reference is strictly future.
Examples
• Yarın gideceğim. — I will go tomorrow.
• Sen bakacaksın. — You will look.
• O başlayacak. — He/She/It will start.
• Biz yazacağız. — We will write.
• Siz konuşacaksınız. — You will speak.
• Onlar dönecekler. — They will return.
• Hava açacak. — The weather will clear up.
Notes
• The suffix undergoes vowel harmony and internal softening.
• Verb stems ending in t soften before the future suffix.
• Personal endings attach after the tense marker.
Future Tense (-ecek / -acak) – FAQ (A2)
Q: What does the future tense (-ecek / -acak) express in Turkish?
A: The future tense expresses actions, intentions, plans, predictions, or scheduled events that will happen after the moment of speaking.
Q: How do you choose between -ecek and -acak?
A: The choice depends on two-way vowel harmony: verbs with front vowels take -ecek, and verbs with back vowels take -acak.
Q: Does the future tense suffix change its form when personal endings are added?
A: Yes. The final -k of the suffix softens to ğ before vowel-initial personal endings (for example, -ecek + im → -eceğim).