Explanation
Expresses the idea of 'as soon as', 'the moment...'.
Formation
Verb-dictionary form + や否や
Detailed explanation
The grammar point Verbる や否や is used to express something happening immediately after another action or event. It can be translated as 'as soon as...' or 'the moment...'. The verb must be in dictionary form.
Examples
Kanojo ga ie ni kaeru ya ina ya, sugu ni terebi o tsukemashita.
As soon as she returned home, she turned on the TV.
Watashi ga yuubinbako o akeru ya ina ya, tegami ga ochimashita.
The moment I opened the mailbox, the letters fell out.
Kodomo-tachi wa gakkou ga owaru ya ina ya, kouen ni hashirimashita.
As soon as school was over, the children ran to the park.
Chichi ga shinbun o yomu ya ina ya, nanika ni furuete imashita.
The moment my father read the newspaper, he started trembling about something.
Practice
Grammar content sourced from hanabira.org.