Present Continuous (-yor)
A1
Verbs
The present continuous denotes ongoing action or a state in progress at the moment of speaking or around the present time. The tense marker is -yor, which appears after the verb stem and before the personal ending.
1. Function / Meaning
The marker -yor expresses present-time continuity, showing that the action is occurring now or is in progress.
It may also indicate temporary or developing situations.
2. Form and Structure
The present continuous is formed by:
Verb stem → -yor → Personal ending
Examples of structural order:
gel-iyor-um
bak-ıyor-sun
yaz-ıyor
yap-ıyor-uz
gel-iyor-sunuz
gör-üyor-ler
3. Vowel Reduction in the Stem
Stems ending in a vowel undergo vowel reduction, where the final stem vowel becomes -ı, -i, -u, -ü depending on harmony:
a → ı
e → i
o → u
ö → ü
Examples:
yap-a → yapıyor
gel-e → geliyor
oku-o → okuyor
gör-ö → görüyor
The stem-final vowel does not remain; the reduced harmonic vowel replaces it.
4. Vowel Harmony of -yor
The element -yor itself does not change by vowel harmony.
Harmony applies only to the personal ending following -yor.
Examples:
gel-iyor-um
gel-iyor-sun
gel-iyor-uz
5. Personal Endings
Personal endings attach after -yor:
1st singular → -um / -üm / -ım / -im
2nd singular → -sun / -sün
3rd singular → -∅
1st plural → -uz / -üz / -ız / -iz
2nd plural → -sunuz / -sünüz
3rd plural → -lar / -ler
The vowel in the personal ending harmonizes with the reduced vowel preceding -yor.
6. Negative and Interrogative Formation
Negative:
stem + -mI- + yor + personal ending
Examples:
gelmiyorum
bakmıyorsun
anlamıyor
duymuyoruz
Interrogative:
yor-form + personal ending + mi (written separately)
Examples:
Geliyor musun?
Anlıyor mu?
Bakıyor musunuz?
Examples
• Geliyorum. — I am coming.
• Yazıyorum. — I am writing.
• Okuyorsun. — You are reading.
• Görüyor. — He/She is seeing.
• Yapıyoruz. — We are doing.
• Geliyorsunuz. — You (plural/honorific) are coming.
• Konuşuyorlar. — They are speaking.
• Gelmiyorum. — I am not coming.
• Anlamıyor. — He/She is not understanding.
• Bakıyor muyuz? — Are we looking?
Notes
• The marker -yor is invariable and does not harmonize.
• Vowel reduction applies to vowel-final stems before -yor.
• Personal endings follow four-way vowel harmony.
• Third person singular has zero ending.
• The question particle mi remains separate and harmonizes independently.
Present Continuous (-yor) – FAQ (A1)
Q: What does the present continuous tense express in Turkish?
A: The present continuous tense expresses an action that is
happening now or a situation that is currently in progress.
Q: How is the present continuous formed in Turkish?
A: It is formed with the verb stem + -yor + a personal ending.
Q: Does the suffix -yor change with vowel harmony?
A: No. The suffix -yor itself does not change; vowel harmony applies only to the personal ending that follows it.