SCONJ : subordinating conjunction

Definition

A subordinating conjunction is a conjunction that links constructions by making one of them a constituent of the other. The subordinating conjunction typically marks the incorporated constituent which has the status of a (subordinate) clause.

In Turkish subordinate clauses are mainly formed by suffixation (see the discussion in tr-overview/special-syntax). However, there are a few words that form subordinate clauses, notably ki and diye. The question particle mI (mı/mi/mu/mü) and clitic dA (da/de) may also form subordinate clauses. We also mark the words, such as madem and eğer, that are syntactically and semantically redundant but signal beginning of a subordinate clause.

For coordinating conjunctions, see CCONJ.

Examples

• Biliyorum ki gelmeyecek “I know that he will not come”
• Gelmeyecek diye biliiyourm “I know that he will not come”
• Eğer gelmeyecekse söylemeliydi “He should have told if he would not come”.
• Madem gelmeyecekti söylemeliydi “He should have told if he wasn’t coming”.
• Oraya vardın mı, denizi göreceksin “You will see the sea when you arrive there”
• Çok çalıştım da kazandım “I worked hard in order to win” / “I won by working hard”