Professional Documents
Culture Documents
MODALS, LINKING
VERBS
and their
ENGLISH
EQUIVALENTS
Yksel Gknel
2015
WWW.YUKSELGOKNEL.COM
We swim.
We take or buy.
adverbial
adverbial
intr verb
adverbial
adverbial
intr verb
adverbial
elma sev-er-im.
indef obj
verb
predicate
indef obj
verb
preficate
I
subj
I
subj
like
apples
read
books.
verb
indef obj
predicate
(*t*le*rim ) I iron.
(er*te*le*riz ) We postpone.
(ya*ka*lar*lar ) They catch.
(a*ra*rz ) We search, look for.
(u*yu*ruz ) We sleep.
(y*r*rz ) We walk.
(ta*ra*rm ) I comb.
(bes*le*rim ) I feed.
(o*ku*ruz ) We read.
(an*lar*s*nz ) You understand.
(u*yu*ruz ) We sleep.
(ku*ru*la*rz ) We dry.
(y*r*rz) We walk.
(bek*le*ni*riz ) We are waited.
(ko*rur*lar) They protect.
(ya*ka*lar*lar) They catch.
U-ar-z.
Yen-er-iz.
Gez-er-iz.
Bak-ar-sn-z.
t-er-im.
Yak-ar-sn.z.
-er.
(u*a*rz) We fly.
(ye*ne*riz) We defeat.
(ge*ze*riz) We walk round.
(ba*kar*s*nz) You look.
(i*te*rim) I push.
(ya*kar*s*nz) You burn.
(i*er) He drinks.
Anla-r-z.
(an*la**rz ) We reach an agreement.
Gl--r-ler.
(g*l*r*ler ) They laugh all togetger.
Kayna-a-r-z.
(kay*na**rz ) We become friendly at once.
nsanlar dn-r. (in*san*lar / d**nr ) Human beings think.
al-an baar-r. (a*l*an / ba*a*rr ) Those who work succeed.
et: (Transitive)
O ben-im-le
subj
adverbial
alay
etti.
ben-i affetti. O
verb
biz-i
deli
etti
alay et (a*la*yet) (make fun of), affet (af*fet) (forgive), armaan et (ar*ma*ga*net) (present as a gift), ba et (ba*et) (manage, cope with), beraat et
(be*ra*a*tet) (be acquitted), beyan et (be*ya:*net) (declare), buyur et (bu*yu*ret) (invite someone to), davet et (da:*ve*tet) (invite), dahil et (da:*hi*let) (include something in), daktilo et (dak*ti*lo / et) (type), dans et (dan*set) (dance), deli et (de*li / et) (make someone mad), dert et (der* det)
(occupy oneself with problems), devam et (de*va:*met) (continue), dikkat et
(dik*ka*tet) (pay attention to, be careful), dua et (du*a: / et) (pray, say ones
prayers), elde et (el*de / et) (obtain), gayret et (gay*re*tet) (try hard, do
ones best), g et (g*et) (migrate), haberdar et (ha*ber*da:*ret) (inform
someone), hakaret et (ha*ka:*re*tet) (insult), hapset (hap*set) (put in
prison, imprison), hareket et (ha*re*ke*tet) (act, behave, start), hata et
(ha*ta: / et) (make a mistake), hayl et (ha*y:*let) (dream, imagine, picture
in ones mind), hazmet (haz*met) (digest), hizmet et (hiz*me*tet) (serve,
assist), idare et (i*da:*re* / et) (manage, control), iftira et (if*ti*ra: / et)
(slander), ihanet et (i*ha:*ne*tet) (betray), ikram et (ik*ra:*met) (offer
someone to eat or drink something), ihll et (ih*l:*let) (violate), ikna et
(ik*na: / et) (convince, persuade), ihra et (ih*ra:*cet) (export, expel), ikaz
et (i:*ka:*zet) (warn), Imza et (im*za: / et) (sign), iml et (i:*m:*let)
(manufacture), intihar et (in*ti*ha:*ret) (commit suicide), iptal et (ip*ta:*let)
(cancel), isabet et (i*sa:*be*tet) (hit the mark), israf et (is*ra:*fet) (vaste),
istifa et (is*ti*fa: / et) (resign), istifade et (is*ti*fa:*de / et) (benefit from),
yap: The transitive verbs that are used after indefinite or definite objects:
Fatma kahve yapyor. Kahve-/y/i Fatma yap-sn.
subject
indef obj
verb
def object
subject
trans verb
The negative form of the first person plural takes [me, ma] negation
allomorphs followed by [/y/iz, /y/z] personal allomorphs:
Ta-ma-/y/z. (ta**ma*yz ) We do not carry.
A-ma-/y/z.
(a*ma*yz ) We do not open.
Ala-ma-/y/z. (a*la*ma*yz ) We dont cry.
Dzenle-me-/y/iz. (d*zen*le*me*yiz ) We dont arrange.
Ka-ma-/y/z. (ka*ma*yz ) We dont escape.
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To shorten these syllable structures, the first letters of them can be used as
v, c.v, v.c, v.c.c, c.v.c or c.v.c.c. The only exception to this rule
is the [T] morpheme used in the causative verb frames as in (ge*tirt), (al*drt). All Turkish morphemes and syllables are formed of one of these six
syllable types. In short, there are no morphemes in Turkish without vowells, but the phonological system drops or combines some of them while
rearranging the syllables of the morphemes to maintain the Turkish
syllabication sequence.
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PRESENT CONTINUOUS
AND
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSES
The Present Continuous (imdiki Zaman) time morpheme is [.YOR], which
has four allomorphs: [i.yor, .yor, .yor, u.yor]. When these allomorphs
attach to the verbs ending with consonants, these consonants detach from
their syllables and attach to the following [.YOR] allomorphs. These
consonants are single underlined. However, when they attach to the verb
roots, stems or frames ending with vowels, the end vowels of these verbs
drop, so the allomorphs of the [.YOR] morpheme follow the vowels that
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Hepiniz-e gven-i.yor-um.
Bana gven-me-i.yor mu-sun?
(he*pi*ni*ze / g*ve*ni*yo*rum ) (ba*na / g*ven*mi*yor / mu*sun )
I trust all of you.
Do you not trust me?
Siz-i anla-.yor-um.
(si*zi / an*l*yo*rum )
I understand you.
Siz-i anla-ma-.yor-um.
(si*zi / an*la*m*yo*rum )
I do not understand you.
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adverbial
adverbial phrs
indefinite object
tran verb
subject
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tran verb
indefinite obj
adverbial
definite obj
tran verb
object
adverbial phrs
adverbial
intr verb
subj
adverbial
swim
in the river.
intr verb
adverbial
Olum gn-de sekiz saat uyur. My son sleeps eight hours a day.
subject
adverbial
adverbial
intr verb
subj
intr verb
adverbial
adverbial
adverbial
adverbial
intr verb
intr verb
adverbial
adverbial
adverbial
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[im, m, m, um]
[in, n, n, un]
[]
[ik, k, k, uk]
[in.iz, n.z, n.z, un.uz]
[] or [ler, lar]
Naturally, as all the allomorphs of the [D] morpheme [di, d, d, du, ti, t,
t, tu] end with vowels, and the personal allomorphs [im, m, m, um;
in, n, n, un; ik, k, k, uk; in.iz, n.z, n.z, un.uz] start with vowels,
the first vowels of the personal allomorphs coincide with the allomorphs of
the morpheme [D] and combine, such as in di-im (dim), d-m" (dm), dm" (dm), du-um" (dum), ti-im (tim), "t-m" (tm), "t-m" (tm), "tu-um"
(tum); "di-in" (din), "ti-in" (tin), "ti-ik" (tik), "di-in.iz" (di*niz), "ti-in.iz" (ti*niz).
ki saat nce i-im-i bit-ir-di-im.
(i*ki / sa*at / n*ce / i*i*mi / bi*tir*dim )
I finished my work two hours ago.
-im-i bit-ir-di-im.
(i*i*mi / bi*tir*dim )
I have finished my work. (My work is ready now.)
Onlar geen hafta sinema-/y/a git-ti.
(on*lar / ge*en / haf*ta / si*ne*ma*ya / git*ti )
They went to the cinema last week.
Onlar sinema-/y/a git-ti.
(on*lar / si*ne*ma*ya / git*ti )
They have gone to the cinema.
(They are at the cinema or on the way to the cinema.)
O kitap- geen sene oku-du-um.
(o / ki*ta*b / ge*en / se*ne / o*ku*dum )
I read that book last year.
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Negative:
The negative making allomorphs [me, ma] are put after verb roots, stems
or verb frames, and then they are followed by the [di, d] time allomorphs,
which are followed by the personal allomorphs respectively. The other time
allomorphs, such as [d, du, ti, t, t, tu] are used in positive forms. They
are not used here as a result of the [me, ma] negative making allomorphs:
Fatma-/y/ pazar-dan beri gr-me-di-im.
(fat*ma*y / pa*zar*dan / be*ri / gr*me*dim )
I have not seen Fatma since Sunday.
Fatma-/y/ bir hafta-dr gr-me-di-im.
(fat*ma*y / bir / haf*ta*dr / gr*me*dim )
I havent seen Fatma for a week.
Fatma-/y/ geen hafta gr-me-di-im.
(fat*ma*y / ge*en / haf*ta / gr*me*dim )
I didnt see Fatma last week.
Daha ev dev-im-i yap-ma-d-m. (Liaison)
(da*ha / e*v*de*vi*mi / yap*ma*dm )
I havent done my homework yet.
Dn bu oda-/y/ temizle-me-di-ler.
(dn / bu / o*da*y / te*miz*le*me*di*ler )
They didnt clean this room yesterday.
Bu oda-/y/ gn-dr temizle-me-di-ler.
(bu / o*da*y / / gn*dr / te*miz*le*me*di*ler )
They havent cleaned this room for three days.
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Positive question:
The question allomorphs [mi, m, m, mu], which are separately written,
are used either after the verbs, or they may be used after the stressed
words in sentences. They are interrogative adverbs that add interrogatve
concepts to verbs and nouns.
Ahmet mi okul-a otobs-le git-ti?
(ah*met / mi / o*ku*la / o*to*bs*le / git*ti )
Has Ahmet gone to school by bus?
Ahmet okul-a otobs-le mi git-ti?
(ah*met / o*ku*la / o*to*bsle / mi / git*ti )
Has Ahmet gone to school by bus?
Ahmet otobs-le okul-a m git-ti?
(ah*met / o*to*bs*le /o*ku*la / m / git*ti )
Has Ahmet gone to school by bus?
Ahmet okul-a git-ti mi?
(ah*met / o*ku*la / git*ti / mi )
Has Ahmet gone to school? (All the sentences are yes-no questions.)
If the last syllable in a sentence is used with a rising intonation (), the
sentence means, I am surprised to hear it, or I could not hear you well. If
it is used with a falling intonation (), the question is a yes-no question.
Mektuplar- at-t-n m?
(mek*tup*la*r / at*tn / m )
Have you posted the letters?
Pazar gn futbol ma--/n/a git-ti-in mi?
(pa*zar / g*n / fut*bol / ma**na / git*tin / mi )
Did you go to the football match on Sunday?
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Negative:
After the verb roots, stems or frames, one of the [me, ma] negation
allomorphs is used; and then only the [mi, m] allomorphs follow them
according to the vowel harmony rules, and finally the personal allomorphs are
added:
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Positive question:
In positive questions, [mi-/y/im, m-/y/m, m-/y/m, mu-/y/um]; [mi-sin,
m-sn, m-sn, mu-sun]; [mi, m, m, mu]; [mi-/y/iz, m-/y/z, m-/y/z,
mu-/y/uz]; [mi-sin.iz, m-sn.z, m-sn.z, mu-sun.uz] and [ler mi, lar m]
words are separately used in accordance with the harmony rules:
Olun dn ma-a git-mi mi?
(o*lun / dn / ma*a / git*mi / mi )
Tell me whether your son went to the football match yesterday.
Kap-/y/ kilitle-mi mi-/y/im?
(ka*p*y / ki*lit*le*mi / mi*yim )
Tell me whether I have locked the door.
(The /y/ glides are inserted between the successive vowels.)
Yen-il-mi-ler mi!
(ye*nil*mi*ler / mi)
Have they been beaten! (Astonishment)
Araba-am tamir et-il-mi mi?
(a*ra*bam / ta:*mir / e*dil*mi / mi )
Do they say (have you heard) that my car has been repaired? (Passive)
Negative question:
In negative questions, the [me, ma] negation allomorphs are attached to
verb roots, stems or frames:
Kap-/y/ kilit-le-me-mi-ler mi?!
(ka*p*y / ki*lit*le*me*mi*ler / mi)
Do they say that they didn't lock the door? (Im shocked to hear that.)
Ben-i gr-me-mi mi?
(be*ni / gr*me*mi / mi)
Does he say that he didn't see me? (I can't believe!) (Incredible!)
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Negative:
The negative making allomorphs of this tense are [me] or [ma], which are
followed by [e.cek] or [a.cak] allomorphs. When "me-/y/e.cek" or "ma/y/a.cak" allomorphs follow one another, the successive /e/ or /a/ vowels are
linked by the /y/ glides to maintain the harmonious link between these
vowels:
Toplant-/y/a git-me-/y/e.cek-im.
(top*lan*t*ya / git*me*ye*ce*im ), or impolitely, (git*miy*cem)
I wont go to the meeting. (Refusal).
The /y/ glide is inserted between the successive e-e vowels, and the unvoiced consonant /k/ changes into the voiced form //.
Onlar-n teklif-i-/n/i kabul et-me-/y/e.cek-iz.
(on*la*rn / tek*li:*fi*ni / ka*bl / et*me*ye*ce*iz )
We will not accept their proposal.
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Positive question:
In positive questions, mi-/y/im?, mi-sin?, mi?, mi-/y/iz?, misin.iz?, (ler) mi? or their allomorphs are separately used:
Bu mektup-lar- daktilo et-e.cek mi-sin?
(bu / mek*tup*la*r / dak*ti*lo / e*de*cek / mi*sin )
Are you going to type these letters?
Yarn git-e.cek mi-sin?, or Yarn git-i.yor mu-sun?
(ya*rn / gi*de*cek / mi*sin ) (ya*rn / gi*di*yor / mu*sun )
Are you leaving tomorrow? (The /t/ changes into /d/.)
Onlar biz-i ziyaret et-e.cek-ler mi?
(on*lar / bi*zi / zi*ya:*ret / e*de*cek*ler / mi )
Are they going to visit us?
Note: Although the [mi, m, m, mu] adverbial interrogative allomorphs and the [me,
ma] adverbial negative making allomorphs are written in green, they will be written in
red from now on as they are the allomorphs of the verb compositions in Turkish, and
difficult to write them in different colors.
Negative question:
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Negative:
Although the negative making allomorphs of this tense are [me] and [ma],
their last vowels drop when they are attached to the allomorphs of [.YOR]:
Gel-me-i.yor-lar-d. (The /e/ drops, and the /m/ attaches to /i/.)
(gel*mi*yor*lar*d )
They were not coming.
Onlar- bekle-me-i.yor-du-uk. (Bekle is transitive in Turkish.)
(on*la*r / bek*le*mi*yor*duk )
We were not waiting for them. (Wait is intransitive in English.)
O ben-i sev-me-i.yor-du.
(o / be*ni / sev*mi*yor*du )
She wasnt in love with me. (In love is the subject complement.)
O ben-i anla-ma-.yor-du. (O ben-i anla-ma-d.)
(o / be*ni / an*la*m*yor*du )
She didnt understand me.
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Positive question:
The question allomorphs of this tense are [mi, m, m, mu]. Each one of
these allomorphs may be separately used after any stressed word in a
sentence:
Ahmet okul-a otobs-le mi git-i.yor-du?
(ah*met / o*ku*la / o*to*bsle*mi / gi*di*yor*du )
Was Ahmet going to school by bus?
Ahmet otobs-le okul-a m git-i.yor-du?
(ah*met / o*to*bs*le / o*ku*la m / gi*di*yor*du )
Was Ahmet going to school by bus?
Ahmet okul-a otobs-le git-i.yor mu/y/-du?
(ah*met / o*ku*la / o*to*bs*le / gi*di*yor / mu/y/-du )
Was Ahmet going to school by bus?
Uyu-u.yor mu/y/-du-un.uz? (The [mi,m,m,mu] are queston allomorps.)
(u*yu*yor / muy*du*nuz )
Were you sleeping?
al-.yor mu/y/-du-uk?
(a*l**yor / muy*duk )
Were we working?
When the verb is stressed, the question allomorph [mu] attaches to [du]
followed by the personal allomorphs:
"Gidiyor mu/y/-du-um?" "Bekliyor mu/y/-du-un?" "alyor mu/y/-du?" "Uyuyor mu/y/-du-uk?" "Kouyor mu/y/-du-un-uz?" "Glyor-lar m/y/-d?"
Negative question:
The [me, ma] negative allomorphs are used in negative questions as usual:
Onlar otobs-le git-me-i.yor-lar m/y/-d?
(on*lar / o*to*bs*le / git*mi*yor*lar / my*d )
Were they not going by bus?
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Snav son-a er-dik-i/n/-de iki saattir soru-lar-a cevap ver-me-/y/e al.yor-du-um. I had been trying to answer the questions for two hours
when the exam ended. (er-dik and ver-me are infinitives.)
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USED TO
Geni Zamann Hikyesi
The equivalent of the expression of used to is used in Turkish as it is used
in English. To form this expression, the simple present tense allomorphs of
[R], [ir, r, r, ur, er, ar], are used followed by [di, d, d, du] past
allomorphs; and finally, (ben) [im, m, m, um]; (sen) [in, n, n, un];
(o) []; (biz) [ik, k, k, uk]; (siz) [in.iz, n.z, n.z, un.uz]; (onlar)
[ler-di, lar-d] personal allomorphs are added. The identical i-i, -, -,
u-u vowels combine and verbalize as single vowels:
Onsekiz ya-m-da/y/-ken futbol oyna-ar-d-m.
(on*se*kiz / ya*m*day*ken / fut*bol / oy*nar*dm )
I used to play football when I was eighteen.
Biz her akam televizyon seyret-er-di-ik.
(biz / her / ak*am / te*le*viz*yon / sey*re*der*dik)
We used to watch television every evening.
Negative:
The negation allomorph, which is used without the /z/ consonant for the first
person in The Simple Present Tense (Geni Zaman) negative, is used with
the phoneme /z/ in negative used to tenses, such as git-mez, oku-maz.
After this, the allomorphs of the morpheme [D] and the personal allomorphs
follow:
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Positive question:
To produce a positive question, one of the Simple Present Tense allomorphs is attached to a verb root, stem or frame, and then, as a separate
word, one of the question allomorphs [mi, m, m, mu], and one of the
Simple Past Tense allomorphs [di, d, d, du] is linked to the question
allomorphs by the /y/ glides, and finally a suitable personal allomorph follows
them:
Siz her gn ngilizce al-r m/y/-d-n.z?, or (alyor muydunuz?)
(siz / her*gn / in*gi*liz*ce / a*l*r / my*d*nz )
Did you use(d) to study English every day?
(The /y/ glide is inserted between [m] and [d].)
Mutfak-ta anne-en-e her gn yardm et-er mi/y/-di-in?
(mut*fak*ta / an*ne*ne / her / gn / yar*dm / e*der / miy*din )
Did you use to help your mother in the kitchen every day?
Sen gen-ken kz-lar futbol oyna-ar m/y/-d?
(sen / gen*ken / kz*lar / fut*bol / oy*nar/ m/y/*d )
Did girls used to play football when you were young?
This verbal composition is also used in conditional sentences:
Sen-in yer-in-de ol-sa-am baba-am-n t--/n/ dinle-er-di-im.
(se*nin / ye*rin*de / ol*sam / ba*ba*mn / **d*n / din*ler*dim )
If I were you, I would listen to my fathers advice. (Advice)
Jack bura-da ol-sa, biz-e yardm et-er-di.
(Jack / bur*da / ol*sa~ / bi*ze / yar*dm / e*der*di )
If Jack were here, he would help us.
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In all [mi, m, m, mu] sentences the origin and the time of the rumor
are either unknown or unimportant.
Bekle-me.li/y/-mi-im. (bek*le*me*liy*mi*im) They say that I must wait.
Bekle-me-me.li/y/-mi-im. (bek*le*me*me*liy*mi*im) They say that I mustn't wait.
Bekle-me.li mi/y/-mi-im? (bek*le*me*li / miy*mi*im) Do they say that I must wait?
Bekle-me-me.li mi/y/-mi-im? (bek*le*me*me*li / miy*mi*im) Do they say I mustn't
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Jack says (or I have heard) that all girls are in love with him, which is
unbelievable.
"Mi mi", "m m", "m m", "mu mu" express unbelievable rumor.
Ben-i tan-ma-.yor mu/y/-mu? Daha neler!
(be*ni / ta*n*m*yor / muy*mu) (da*ha / ne*ler)
Does he (she) say that he (she) doesn't know me? Ridiculous!
Jack bekr deil mi/y/-mi?
(jack / be*kr / de*il / mi/y/*mi)
Have you heard that Jack isn't bachelor?
Patron bugn ok megul-mu.
(pat*ron / bu*gn / ok / me*gul*mu)
They say that the boss is very busy today.
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subject
verb
adverb
When I arrived at the airport, the plane had already taken off.
(O) (ben-im) hangi lke-ler-e git-tik-im-i ren-mek iste-di.
subj
object of iste
verb
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My wife will have been cooking in the kitchen for three hours by the
time the visitors arrive.
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MODALS
PRESENT MODALS
While English modals are made of auxiliary verbs, Turkish modals are made
either of morphemes, or of words, or of both. They convey nearly the same
concepts as they do in English. Therefore, instead of giving detailed boring
explanations of the Turkish modals, we prefer giving English equivalents of
them, which we think, might be more useful. Moreover, the English
sentences given as the equivalents of the Turkish modals can be considered
more satisfactory and precise than detailed English explanations of them,
which may lead to misunderstanding.
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should or ought to
(Gerek-ir) (Advice)
In order to compose this modal concept, one of the personal possessive
allomorphs is attached to the owned part of a noun + infinitive
compound. In the second parts of this compound, the second type of
infinitives are used, which are made by attaching [me, or ma] allomorphs to
verb roots, stems or frames, such as: git-me, bekle-me, bekle-en-me,
satn al-ma, satn al-n-ma, ezberle-me, ezber-len-me, spr-l-me,
etc.
The personal possessive allomorphs attached to the infinitive parts of the
noun + infinitive compounds are in the following list:
(ben-im)
(sen-in)
(o-/n/un)
(biz-im)
(siz-in)
(onlar-n)
[em, am]
[en, an]
[/s/i, /s/]
[em.iz, am.z]
[en.iz, an.z]
[/s/i, /s/] or [leri, lar]
(bekle-me-em) ( ko-ma-am)
(bekle-me-en) (ko-ma-an)
(bekle-me-si) (ko-ma-s)
(bekle-me-em.iz) (ko-ma-am.z)
(bekle-me-en.iz) (ko-ma-an.z)
(bekle-me-si) (ko-ma-s)
In short, bekle-me-em means ben-im bekle-me-em because the em attached to bekle-me means ben-m. Therefore, the possessive pronoun
ben-im is generally ignored.
Finally, after the above possessive pronoun + infinitive compounds
gerek-ir verb is used as a separate word:
Daha ok al-ma-an gerek-ir. (Turkish and English sentence structures
are different.) (da*ha / ok / a*l*man / ge*re*kir )
You should (ought to) study harder. (Advice)
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verb
verb
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PAST MODALS
Could
Could expresses ability in the past. To express the same concept in
Turkish, main verb-[e.bil, a.bil]-[i.yor]-[du]-[pers] verb composition
should be used:
Yedi ya-m-da/y/-ken yz-e.bil-i.yor-du-um.
(ye*di / ya*m*day*ken / y*ze*bi*li*yor*dum )
I could swim when I was seven years old. (Ability in the past)
Ahmet okul-a git-me-den nce oku-/y/up yaz-a.bil-i.yor-du.
(ah*met / o*ku*la / git*me*den / n*ce / o*ku*yup / ya*za*bi*li*yor*du )
Ahmet could read and write before he went to school.
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Present Positive:
The compulsory personal allomorphs used with present be are as follows:
(ben): [im, m, m, um]; (sen): [sin, sn, sn, sun]; (o): []; (biz): [iz, z, z,
uz]; (siz): [sin.iz, sn.z, sn.z, sun.uz]; (onlar): [() (ler, lar)]
The subject complements that give information about the subjects may be
nouns, pronouns, adjectives or prepositional phrases. They are as
follows:
1. Noun: (Ben) retmen-im (*ret*me*nim) I am a teacher. (Sen)
doktor-sun (dok*tor*sun) You are a doctor. O bir doktor (dok*tor).
She is a doctor. Biz doktor-uz (dok*to*ruz) We are doctors. Siz bir
retmen-sin.iz (siz / *ret*men*si*niz) You are a teacher. Onlar
asker (on*lar / as*ker) They are soldiers.
(No time allomorphs are used when the linking verbs are present in
Turkish.)
2. Adjective: (Ben) tembel-im (tem*be*lim) I am lazy. Sen alkan-sn
(a*l*kan*sn) You are hardworking. O mutlu(dur) (o / mut*lu).
She is happy. Biz iyi-/y/iz (biz / i*yi*yiz) We are all right. Yorgunsun.uz (yor*gun*su*nuz) You are tired. Onlar isteksiz. They are
unwilling.
3. Postpositional phrases (adverbial): The allomorphs [de, da, te, ta]
are expressed in English in the prepositions of in, at, on; and
nn-de, arkasn-da, yann-da, yaknn-da, altn-da
Turkish adverbials are used as subject complements. For example:
ev-de (at home); okul-da (at school, in school); masa-da (on the
table, at the table); kap-da (at the door); kutu-da (in the box); bahede (in the garden); hastane-de (in hospital, in the hospital); uak-ta
(on the plane), kap-/n/n n-/n/-de (in front of the door).
The other [e, a] and [den, dan, ten, tan] allomorphs, which turn nouns into
adverbials, are not used with the linking verbs be; they are used together
with action verbs like go, come, wait, sleep, jump, etc.
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Present Negative:
To change the positive be linking verbs into negative forms, the negative
making adverb deil is used after a subject complement, such as:
Mutlu deil-im.
(mut*lu / de*i*lim)
I am not happy.
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(ne*re*de*yiz)
Where are we? We are in stanbul.
English does not have any suffxes or prefixes to turn adjectives into verbs.
Therefore, this deficiency is fulfilled by some linking verbs such as get,
grow, look, turn, smell, sound, become, which are followed by nouns or
adjectives (subject complements). As some Turkish adjectives can be
turned into verbs by attaching some suffixes to adjectives, some English
linking verbs are not used in Turkish. Therefore, verbs are used instead. In
the following examples, you can see how Turkish adjectives or nouns turn
into verbs by attaching some suffixes to them:
Gzel gzel-le, yal ya-lan, soguk sou, uzun uza, ksa
ksal, yorgun yorul, hazr hazr-lan, sar sarar, sinirli
sinir-len, scak sn, phe phe-len, sakin sakin-le, krmz
kzar, g g-le, koku kok, sar sarar.
Example sentences:
Herkes yalan-r. (Yalan is an intransitive verb which means grow old.)
(her*kes / ya*la*nr)
Everybody grows old. (Grow is a linking verb, old is an adjective.)
Hava sou-u.yor. (Sou is an intransitive verb which means get cold)
(ha*va / so*u*yor)
It is getting colder. (Get is a linking verb, cold is an adjective.)
Yorgun grn-.yor-sun. (Grn is a reflexive verb, yorgun is an adj.)
(yor*gun / g*r*n*yor*sun)
You look tired. (Look is a linking verb; tired is an adjective.)
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(ap*tal*lk / e*di*yor*sun)
You are being foolish. (Are being is a linking verb; foolish is an adjective.)
-d/y/-se-en ceket-in-i giy. ( is intransitive; it means feel cold)
(**dy*sen / ce*ke*ti*ni / giy)
If you feel cold, put your coat on. (Feel is a linking verb; cold is an adj,)
Fatma gn-den gn-e gzel-le-i.yor. (Gzel-le means get beautiful.)
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LINKING VERBS
Simple Past
The simple past tense allomorphs of the verb be are [di, d, d, du, ti, t, t,
tu], which are attached to the personal allomorphs below:
(ben) [im, m, m, um], (sen) [in, n, n, un], (o) [], (biz) [ik, k, k, uk], (siz)
[in.iz, n.z, n.z, un.uz], (onlar) [ler, lar]
Positive:
Ev-de/y/-di-im.
(ev*dey*dim)
I was at home.
Hazr-d-n.z.
(ha*zr*d*nz)
You were ready
.
Mutlu/y/-du-uk.
(mut*luy*duk)
We were happy.
Sarho-tu-lar.
(sar*ho*tu*lar)
They were drunk.
renci-ler neeli/y/-di.
(*ren*ci*ler / ne*e*liy*di)
The students were cheerful.
Araba-am kap-/n/n n-/n/-de/y/-di.
(a*ra*bam / ka*p*nn / *nn*dey*di)
My car was in front of the door.
Negative:
To turn a positive linking verb into a negative statement, the negative
making adverb deil is used after the subject complement, which is
attached to past time and personal allomorphs:
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Positive question:
To turn a positive linking verb into a positive question form, one of the [mi,
m, m, mu] question allomorphs is attached to time and personal allomorphs separately:
Dn okul-da m/y/-d-n?
(dn / o*kul*da / my*dn)
Were you at school yesterday?
Miting kalabalk m/y/-d?
(mi*ting / ka*la*ba*lk / my*d)
Was the meeting crowded?
Yorgun mu/y/-du-un.uz?
(yor*gun / muy*du*nuz)
Were you tired?
Sorular zor mu/y/-du?
(so*ru*lar / zor / muy*du)
Were the questions difficult?
Negative question:
In negative question forms, the negative making adverb deil follows the
subject complement as they are in the following examples:
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Present Modals
Positive:
ol-[a.bil-ir]-[personal allomorph] = can be or may be (Possibility)
Turkish modal verbs are used followed by subject complements attached by
one of the personal allomorphs: (ben) [im], (sen) [sin], (o) [], (biz) [iz], (siz)
[sin-iz], [onlar) [ler]:
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Negative:
ol-ma-/y/a.bil-ir-[personal allomorph] = may not be (Negative possibility)
Ev-de ol-ma-/y/a.bil-ir-im.
(ev*de / ol*ma*ya*bi*li*rim)
I may not be at home.
Mutlu ol-ma-/y/a.bil-ir-sin.
(mut*lu / ol*ma*ya*bi*lir*sin)
You may not be happy.
Ankara-da hava gneli ol-ma-/y/a.bil-ir.
(an*ka*ra*da / ha*va / g*ne*li / ol*ma*ya*bi*lir)
The weather may not be sunny in Ankara.
Okul-un n-/n/-de ol-ma-/y/a.bil-ir-iz.
(o*ku*lun / *nn*de / ol*ma*ya*bi*li*riz)
We may not be in front of the school.
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Positive Question:
Can is used in question forms in English In place of may:
Baarl ol-a.bil-ir mi-/y/im?
(ba*a*r*l / o*la*bi*lir / mi*yim)
Can I be successful?
Yarn brom-da ol-a.bil-ir mi-sin?
(ya*rn / b*rom*da / o*la*bi*lir / mi*sin)
Can you be in my office tomorrow?
Anne-en fkeli ol-a.bil-ir mi?
(an*nen / f*ke*li / o*la*bi*lir / mi)
Can your mother be angry?
Saat be-te hazr ol-a.bil-ir mi-/y/iz?
(sa*at / be*te / ha*zr / o*la*bi*lir / mi*yiz)
Can we be ready at five?
Dikkatli ol-a.bil-ir mi-sin.iz?
(dik*kat*li / o*la*bi*lir / mi*si*niz)
Can you be careful?
Birazdan hazr ol-a.bil-ir-ler mi?
(bi*raz*dan / ha*zr / o*la*bi*lir*ler / mi)
Can they be ready soon?
Negative question:
To turn the ol-a.bil-r modal form into negative, ol-a.maz modal form is
used:
Hakl ol-a.maz m-/y/m?
(hak*l / o*la*maz / m*ym)
Cant I be right?
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Ol-ma.l = must be
Positive:
To arrange a must be model form in Turkish, a subject complement +
ol-ma.l-[personal allomorph] verb phrase should be used, which expresses
either certainty or necessity or both. Here are some example sentences:
Hazr ol-ma.l-sn. (Certainty or necessity)
(ha*zr / ol*ma*l*sn)
You must be ready. (Certainty or necessity)
The Turkish and English sentences above are ambiguous because they may
both mean I am certain that you are ready or It is necessary for you to be
ready.
O-/n/a inan-dk-im iin aptal ol-ma.l-/y/m.
(o*na / i*nan*d*m / i*in / ap*tal / ol*ma*l*ym)
I must be stupid to believe him. (I am sure that I am stupid.) (Certainty)
Sinirli ol-ma.l-sn.
(si*nir*li / ol*ma*l*sn)
You must be nervous. (I am sure that you are nervous.) (Certainty)
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Negative:
In the negative form, the negative making allomorph [ma] attaches to the
verb ol:
Sabrsz ol-ma-ma.l-/y/m.
(sa*br*sz / ol*ma*ma*l*ym)
I mustnt be impatient. (Necessity)
zgn ol-ma-ma.l-sn. (I want you not to be sorry.) (Necessity)
(z*gn / ol*ma*ma*l*sn)
You mustnt be sorry.
zl-me-me.li-sin. (I advise you not to be sorry.) (Necessity)
(*zl*me*me*li*sin)
You mustnt feel sad.
Tertipsiz ol-ma-ma.l. (Necessity)
(ter*tip*siz / ol*ma*ma*l)
He mustnt be untidy.
Dikkatsiz ol-ma-ma.l-/y/z. (Necessity)
(dik*kat*siz / ol*ma*ma*l*yz)
We mustnt be careless.
Kaytsz ol-ma-ma.l-sn.z. (Necessity)
(ka*yt*sz / ol*ma*ma*l*s*nz)
You mustnt be indifferent.
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Positive Question:
In question forms, the [m] interrogative allomorph attaches to the personal
allomorphs, and they follow the [ol-ma.l] verb together as a separate word:
Hazr ol-ma.l m-/y/m? (Is it necessary?)
(ha*zr / ol*ma*l / m*ym)
Must I be ready?
Sabah-leyin okul-da ol-ma.l m-sn? (Is it necessary?)
(sa*bah*le*yin / o*kul*da / ol*ma*l / m*sn)
Must you be at school in the morning?
Balklar kzarm m ol-ma.l? (Is it necessary?)
(ba*lk*lar / k*zar*m / m / ol*ma*l)
Must the fish be fried?
Sabrl m ol-ma.l-/y/z? (Is it necessary?)
(sa*br*l / m / ol*ma*l*yz)
Must we be patient?
Kukulu ol-ma.l m-sn.z? (Is it necessary?)
(ku*ku*lu / ol*ma*l / m*s*nz)
Must you be doubtful?
Uak-ta ol-ma.l-lar m? (Is it necessary?)
(u*ak*ta / ol*ma*l*lar / m)
Must they be on the plane?
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Question:
yi bir yzc ol-a.maz m-/y/m?
(i*yi / bir / y*z*c / o*la*maz / m*ym)
Cant I be a good swimmer?
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Perfect Modals
should have been
Although past modals are used with action verbs, they are not much used
with linking verbs. However, perfect modals may be used with linking verbs
as follows.
Positive:
(Sen) daha dikkatli ol-ma.l/y/-d-n.
subj subj complement
verb
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