Yakalamak Conjugation: All Turkish Tenses of 'to catch'
yakalamak means “to catch”. Its stem is yakala-, so “I am catching” is yakalıyorum, “I caught” is yakaladım and “I will catch” is yakalayacağım. Below you'll find every form in 10 tenses and moods, with negatives, questions and English meanings.
Quick facts
- Stem
- yakala-infinitive minus -mak
- Meaning
- to catch
- Aorist
- yakalar-r — regular: vowel-final stems just add -r
- Vowel harmony
- back unrounded (a / ı) — last stem vowel a
- Vowel narrowing
- final a narrows before -yor: yakalıyorum
- Level
- CEFR B1 · #239 of 247 by frequency
At a glance
One form per tense, split into its suffixes. Tap 🔊 to hear it.
- yakalıyorumyakalı·yor·umPresent Continuous · I am catching
- yakaladımyakala·dı·mDefinite Past · I caught
- yakalamışımyakala·mış·ımReported Past · I apparently caught
- yakalayacağımyakala·yacağ·ımFuture · I will catch
- yakalarımyakala·r·ımAorist (Simple Present) · I catch
- yakalamalıyımyakala·malı·yımNecessitative · I must catch
- yakalasamyakala·sa·mConditional · if I caught
- yakalayakalaImperative & Optative · Catch!
- yakalayabilirimyakala·yabil·ir·imAbility (can) · I can catch
- yakalıyordumyakalı·yor·du·mPast Continuous · I was catching
Example sentences with yakalamak
Common mistakes with yakalamak
- Incorrect: yakalayorumyakalıyorum
Before -yor the final a of yakala- changes to a narrow vowel: yakalıyorum. In other tenses it stays: yakaladım, yakalayacağım. Learn the rule →
- yakalar
Vowel stems simply add -r in the aorist: yakalar, yakalarım. Don't mix up yakalar (habit: "he/she catches") with yakalıyor (right now: "he/she is catching"). Learn the rule →
- Incorrect: yakalamazımyakalamam
The negative aorist drops its -z in the first person: yakalamam ("I do not catch"), yakalamayız — but yakalamaz, yakalamazsın. Learn the rule →
Full conjugation of yakalamak
All 10 tenses and moods × 6 persons, in positive, negative, question and negative-question form. Imperative questions do not exist for sen and siz.
Present ContinuousŞimdiki Zamanyakalıyor
Actions happening right now, ongoing situations and near-future plans. Marker: -(I)yor. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | yakalıyorumI am catching | yakalamıyorumI am not catching | yakalıyor muyumAm I catching? | yakalamıyor muyumAm I not catching? |
| senyou | yakalıyorsunyou are catching | yakalamıyorsunyou are not catching | yakalıyor musunAre you catching? | yakalamıyor musunAre you not catching? |
| ohe/she | yakalıyorhe/she is catching | yakalamıyorhe/she is not catching | yakalıyor muIs he/she catching? | yakalamıyor muIs he/she not catching? |
| bizwe | yakalıyoruzwe are catching | yakalamıyoruzwe are not catching | yakalıyor muyuzAre we catching? | yakalamıyor muyuzAre we not catching? |
| sizyou (pl.) | yakalıyorsunuzyou (pl.) are catching | yakalamıyorsunuzyou (pl.) are not catching | yakalıyor musunuzAre you (pl.) catching? | yakalamıyor musunuzAre you (pl.) not catching? |
| onlarthey | yakalıyorlarthey are catching | yakalamıyorlarthey are not catching | yakalıyorlar mıAre they catching? | yakalamıyorlar mıAre they not catching? |
Definite PastGörülen Geçmiş Zamanyakaladı
Completed past actions the speaker witnessed or is certain about. Marker: -DI. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | yakaladımI caught | yakalamadımI did not catch | yakaladım mıDid I catch? | yakalamadım mıDidn't I catch? |
| senyou | yakaladınyou caught | yakalamadınyou did not catch | yakaladın mıDid you catch? | yakalamadın mıDidn't you catch? |
| ohe/she | yakaladıhe/she caught | yakalamadıhe/she did not catch | yakaladı mıDid he/she catch? | yakalamadı mıDidn't he/she catch? |
| bizwe | yakaladıkwe caught | yakalamadıkwe did not catch | yakaladık mıDid we catch? | yakalamadık mıDidn't we catch? |
| sizyou (pl.) | yakaladınızyou (pl.) caught | yakalamadınızyou (pl.) did not catch | yakaladınız mıDid you (pl.) catch? | yakalamadınız mıDidn't you (pl.) catch? |
| onlarthey | yakaladılarthey caught | yakalamadılarthey did not catch | yakaladılar mıDid they catch? | yakalamadılar mıDidn't they catch? |
Reported PastÖğrenilen Geçmiş Zamanyakalamış
Past events learned from others, inferred, or noticed with surprise. Marker: -mIş. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | yakalamışımI apparently caught | yakalamamışımI apparently did not catch | yakalamış mıyımDid I catch? (reportedly) | yakalamamış mıyımDidn't I catch? (reportedly) |
| senyou | yakalamışsınyou apparently caught | yakalamamışsınyou apparently did not catch | yakalamış mısınDid you catch? (reportedly) | yakalamamış mısınDidn't you catch? (reportedly) |
| ohe/she | yakalamışhe/she apparently caught | yakalamamışhe/she apparently did not catch | yakalamış mıDid he/she catch? (reportedly) | yakalamamış mıDidn't he/she catch? (reportedly) |
| bizwe | yakalamışızwe apparently caught | yakalamamışızwe apparently did not catch | yakalamış mıyızDid we catch? (reportedly) | yakalamamış mıyızDidn't we catch? (reportedly) |
| sizyou (pl.) | yakalamışsınızyou (pl.) apparently caught | yakalamamışsınızyou (pl.) apparently did not catch | yakalamış mısınızDid you (pl.) catch? (reportedly) | yakalamamış mısınızDidn't you (pl.) catch? (reportedly) |
| onlarthey | yakalamışlarthey apparently caught | yakalamamışlarthey apparently did not catch | yakalamışlar mıDid they catch? (reportedly) | yakalamamışlar mıDidn't they catch? (reportedly) |
FutureGelecek Zamanyakalayacak
Plans, predictions and decisions about the future. Marker: -(y)AcAk. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | yakalayacağımI will catch | yakalamayacağımI will not catch | yakalayacak mıyımWill I catch? | yakalamayacak mıyımWon't I catch? |
| senyou | yakalayacaksınyou will catch | yakalamayacaksınyou will not catch | yakalayacak mısınWill you catch? | yakalamayacak mısınWon't you catch? |
| ohe/she | yakalayacakhe/she will catch | yakalamayacakhe/she will not catch | yakalayacak mıWill he/she catch? | yakalamayacak mıWon't he/she catch? |
| bizwe | yakalayacağızwe will catch | yakalamayacağızwe will not catch | yakalayacak mıyızWill we catch? | yakalamayacak mıyızWon't we catch? |
| sizyou (pl.) | yakalayacaksınızyou (pl.) will catch | yakalamayacaksınızyou (pl.) will not catch | yakalayacak mısınızWill you (pl.) catch? | yakalamayacak mısınızWon't you (pl.) catch? |
| onlarthey | yakalayacaklarthey will catch | yakalamayacaklarthey will not catch | yakalayacaklar mıWill they catch? | yakalamayacaklar mıWon't they catch? |
Aorist (Simple Present)Geniş Zamanyakalar
Habits, general truths, willingness and polite requests. Marker: -r / -Ar / -Ir (neg. -mAz). Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | yakalarımI catch | yakalamamI do not catch | yakalar mıyımDo I catch? | yakalamaz mıyımDon't I catch? |
| senyou | yakalarsınyou catch | yakalamazsınyou do not catch | yakalar mısınDo you catch? | yakalamaz mısınDon't you catch? |
| ohe/she | yakalarhe/she catches | yakalamazhe/she does not catch | yakalar mıDoes he/she catch? | yakalamaz mıDoesn't he/she catch? |
| bizwe | yakalarızwe catch | yakalamayızwe do not catch | yakalar mıyızDo we catch? | yakalamaz mıyızDon't we catch? |
| sizyou (pl.) | yakalarsınızyou (pl.) catch | yakalamazsınızyou (pl.) do not catch | yakalar mısınızDo you (pl.) catch? | yakalamaz mısınızDon't you (pl.) catch? |
| onlarthey | yakalarlarthey catch | yakalamazlarthey do not catch | yakalarlar mıDo they catch? | yakalamazlar mıDon't they catch? |
NecessitativeGereklilik Kipiyakalamalı
Obligation and advice: must, should, ought to. Marker: -mAlI. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | yakalamalıyımI must catch | yakalamamalıyımI must not catch | yakalamalı mıyımMust I catch? | yakalamamalı mıyımMustn't I catch? |
| senyou | yakalamalısınyou must catch | yakalamamalısınyou must not catch | yakalamalı mısınMust you catch? | yakalamamalı mısınMustn't you catch? |
| ohe/she | yakalamalıhe/she must catch | yakalamamalıhe/she must not catch | yakalamalı mıMust he/she catch? | yakalamamalı mıMustn't he/she catch? |
| bizwe | yakalamalıyızwe must catch | yakalamamalıyızwe must not catch | yakalamalı mıyızMust we catch? | yakalamamalı mıyızMustn't we catch? |
| sizyou (pl.) | yakalamalısınızyou (pl.) must catch | yakalamamalısınızyou (pl.) must not catch | yakalamalı mısınızMust you (pl.) catch? | yakalamamalı mısınızMustn't you (pl.) catch? |
| onlarthey | yakalamalılarthey must catch | yakalamamalılarthey must not catch | yakalamalılar mıMust they catch? | yakalamamalılar mıMustn't they catch? |
ConditionalDilek-Şart Kipiyakalasa
Conditions and wishes: "if I…", "if only…", "what if I…?". Marker: -sA. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | yakalasamif I caught | yakalamasamif I did not catch | yakalasam mıShould I catch? | yakalamasam mıShould I not catch? |
| senyou | yakalasanif you caught | yakalamasanif you did not catch | yakalasan mıShould you catch? | yakalamasan mıShould you not catch? |
| ohe/she | yakalasaif he/she caught | yakalamasaif he/she did not catch | yakalasa mıShould he/she catch? | yakalamasa mıShould he/she not catch? |
| bizwe | yakalasakif we caught | yakalamasakif we did not catch | yakalasak mıShould we catch? | yakalamasak mıShould we not catch? |
| sizyou (pl.) | yakalasanızif you (pl.) caught | yakalamasanızif you (pl.) did not catch | yakalasanız mıShould you (pl.) catch? | yakalamasanız mıShould you (pl.) not catch? |
| onlarthey | yakalasalarif they caught | yakalamasalarif they did not catch | yakalasalar mıShould they catch? | yakalamasalar mıShould they not catch? |
Imperative & OptativeEmir ve İstek Kipiyakala
Commands ("Go!") and suggestions ("Let me…", "Let's…"). Marker: Ø / -sIn / -(y)In; -(y)AyIm / -(y)AlIm. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | yakalayayımlet me catch | yakalamayayımlet me not catch | yakalayayım mıShall I catch? | yakalamayayım mıShall I not catch? |
| senyou | yakalaCatch! | yakalamaDon't catch! | — | — |
| ohe/she | yakalasınlet him/her catch | yakalamasınlet him/her not catch | yakalasın mıShall he/she catch? | yakalamasın mıShall he/she not catch? |
| bizwe | yakalayalımlet's catch | yakalamayalımlet's not catch | yakalayalım mıShall we catch? | yakalamayalım mıShall we not catch? |
| sizyou (pl.) | yakalayınCatch! (pl./polite) | yakalamayınDon't catch! (pl./polite) | — | — |
| onlarthey | yakalasınlarlet them catch | yakalamasınlarlet them not catch | yakalasınlar mıShall they catch? | yakalamasınlar mıShall they not catch? |
Ability (can)Yeterlilikyakalayabilir
What someone can or cannot do, and permission. Marker: -(y)Abil- + aorist (neg. -(y)AmA-). Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | yakalayabilirimI can catch | yakalayamamI cannot catch | yakalayabilir miyimCan I catch? | yakalayamaz mıyımCan't I catch? |
| senyou | yakalayabilirsinyou can catch | yakalayamazsınyou cannot catch | yakalayabilir misinCan you catch? | yakalayamaz mısınCan't you catch? |
| ohe/she | yakalayabilirhe/she can catch | yakalayamazhe/she cannot catch | yakalayabilir miCan he/she catch? | yakalayamaz mıCan't he/she catch? |
| bizwe | yakalayabilirizwe can catch | yakalayamayızwe cannot catch | yakalayabilir miyizCan we catch? | yakalayamaz mıyızCan't we catch? |
| sizyou (pl.) | yakalayabilirsinizyou (pl.) can catch | yakalayamazsınızyou (pl.) cannot catch | yakalayabilir misinizCan you (pl.) catch? | yakalayamaz mısınızCan't you (pl.) catch? |
| onlarthey | yakalayabilirlerthey can catch | yakalayamazlarthey cannot catch | yakalayabilirler miCan they catch? | yakalayamazlar mıCan't they catch? |
Past ContinuousŞimdiki Zamanın Hikâyesiyakalıyordu
What was happening at a moment in the past. Marker: -(I)yordu. Grammar guide · Open in the conjugator
| Person | Positive | Negative | Question | Negative question |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| benI | yakalıyordumI was catching | yakalamıyordumI was not catching | yakalıyor muydumWas I catching? | yakalamıyor muydumWas I not catching? |
| senyou | yakalıyordunyou were catching | yakalamıyordunyou were not catching | yakalıyor muydunWere you catching? | yakalamıyor muydunWere you not catching? |
| ohe/she | yakalıyorduhe/she was catching | yakalamıyorduhe/she was not catching | yakalıyor muyduWas he/she catching? | yakalamıyor muyduWas he/she not catching? |
| bizwe | yakalıyordukwe were catching | yakalamıyordukwe were not catching | yakalıyor muydukWere we catching? | yakalamıyor muydukWere we not catching? |
| sizyou (pl.) | yakalıyordunuzyou (pl.) were catching | yakalamıyordunuzyou (pl.) were not catching | yakalıyor muydunuzWere you (pl.) catching? | yakalamıyor muydunuzWere you (pl.) not catching? |
| onlarthey | yakalıyorlardıthey were catching | yakalamıyorlardıthey were not catching | yakalıyorlar mıydıWere they catching? | yakalamıyorlar mıydıWere they not catching? |
Related verbs
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of yakalamak?
The definite past (-DI) of yakalamak is yakaladım (I caught), yakaladın, yakaladı, yakaladık, yakaladınız, yakaladılar. The negative is yakalamadım (I did not catch), and the reported past is yakalamış (he/she apparently caught).
Is yakalamak irregular?
No, yakalamak is a regular verb. Every tense is built from the stem yakala- with the standard suffixes: yakalıyorum, yakaladım, yakalayacağım, and its aorist yakalar follows the rule. The final vowel narrows before -yor (yakalıyorum), which is the normal rule for vowel-final stems.
How do you say "I will catch" in Turkish?
"I will catch" is yakalayacağım. "I won't catch" is yakalamayacağım, and "Will you catch?" is yakalayacak mısın? For plans you have already made, Turkish also uses the present continuous: yakalıyorum.
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