As much as (‑dığınca and ‑dığı kadar)

Prerequisites for this Turkish Grammar Lesson

As much as possible

Grammar form:

• Verb + dığınca/diğince/duğunca/düğünce    (optional adverb or adjective)
• Verb + dığı/diği/duğu/düğü    kadar    (optional adverb or adjective)
• Verb + (y) + a/e + bildiğince    (optional adverb or adjective)
• Verb + (y) + a/e + bildiği    kadar    (optional adverb or adjective)

These four verb endings (‑dığınca, ‑abildiğince, ‑dığı kadar and ‑abildiği kadar) are all used to convey a meaning of “as much as possible.” When a verb has one of these endings and is followed by an adverb or adjective, the grammar form serves to make the adverb or adjective more extreme, as in “olabildiğince hızlı” (as fast as possible). This grammar form most commonly occurs in the expressions “mümkün olduğunca” and “elimizden geldiğince” because “mümkün olmak” and “elimizden gelmek” are phrases that express the possibility of something. When these verb phrases are not used, the “-abil” verb ending is often used to give the meaning of possibility.

Examples
Mümkün olduğunca hızlı bir şekilde geri döneceğim.
I am going to return as quickly as possible.
(Quote from basketball player)

Elimizden geldiğince vatandaşlarımıza yardımcı olmaya çalışıyoruz.
We are working as hard as we can to help our fellow citizens.
(Quote from non-profit organization president)

Elimizden geldiğince birer puanları 3’er puana çevirmeye çalışacağız.
We are going to work as hard as we can to turn one point per [player] into three points per [player].
(Quote from soccer coach)

Olabildiğince yerel, mümkün olduğunca ekolojik, sürdürülebilir hedef, evrensel ilkeler.
As local as possible, as ecological as possible, sustainable, universal principles.
(Photo caption on Bed and Breakfast review )

İyi konuşma, olabildiği kadar etkili, mümkün olduğu kadar kısa olandır.
Good speech(es) are the ones that are as powerful as possible and as short as possible.
(Title of post on non-profit website)

Bundan sonraki süreçte yine imkan olduğunca ihtiyaç duyulduğunda bu katkıları sunmaya […] devam edeceğiz.
Moving forward, as much as possible and when there is a felt need again, we will continue to offer these contributions.
(Quote from district mayor)

As much as needed, etc.

Grammar form:

• (Adjective)    olduğunca
• (Adjective)    olduğu    kadar

In a few rare cases, the ‑dığınca and ‑dığı kadar verb endings can be used on the olmak verb with a single adjective to make a phrase that does not have a meaning of possibility, as in “lazım olduğunca,” which means “as much as needed.” In these cases, the descriptive word that is used to replace the meaning of possibility is placed before the olmak verb. This usage of the ‑dığınca and ‑dığı kadar verb endings can give either a meaning of “to the extent that it is X” or it can mean “as long as it is X.” For the “as long as” meaning, the ‑dığı sürece ending is much more commonly used than ‑dığınca and ‑dığı kadar.

Examples
Şartlar ne olursa olsun sağlığınız iyi olduğunca çalışalım inşaallah.
Whatever the conditions are, as long as your health is good let’s keep working (if God wills).
(Excerpt from forum post)

Şimdi yalan yok, bende teknolojiyi severim. Ama fazla oyunları sevmem, telefonlarla hiç aram yoktur. Yani lazım olduğunca kullanmayı tercih ederim.
Now I won’t lie, I also love technology. But I don’t like games much, and I don’t have anything to do with telephones. I mean, I prefer to use [technology] to the extent that it is needed.
(Excerpt from news blog)

Bize hangisi lazım? Lazım olanla, lazım olduğu kadar uğraşmak lazım!
Which one is necessary for us? It is only necessary to deal with things that are needed to the extent that they are needed.
(Old saying quoted on news website)

He’s as stupid as he is cute

Grammar form:

• (Adjective1)    olduğunca    (adjective2)
• (Adjective1)    olduğu    kadar    (adjective2)

When “olduğunca” or “olduğu kadar” is surrounded on both sides by two different adjectives, the phrase gives the meaning of “as X as it is Y,” where X and Y are the adjectives. This usage is more common than the usage with a single adjective above.

Examples
Tatlı olduğu kadar aptal da olan tay
The baby horse that is as stupid as he is cute
(Caption of humorous video)

Büyük bir şeref veriliyordu kendisine; büyük olduğunca da tehlikeli.
It was a big honor that was being given to him, and as dangerous as it was big.
(Excerpt from book)

Sarıkız çok güzel, güzel olduğunca da iyi yürekli, yardımsever bir kızdır.
Sarıkız is really beautiful ‑ and as good-hearted as she is beautiful ‑ a girl who loves to help.
(Excerpt from old legend)

Bu güzel olduğunca özel kentin özgür insanları arasındaki okurlarımla, TÜYAP Kitap Fuarı’nda buluşuyorum.
I’m meeting with my readers in the TÜYAP Book Fair among the free people of this city that’s as special as it is beautiful.
(Excerpt from newspaper column)