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MODALS, LINKING
VERBS
and their
ENGLISH
EQUIVALENTS
Yksel Gknel
2015
WWW.YUKSELGOKNEL.COM
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.
(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.
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)
yap: The transitive verbs that are used after indefinite or definite objects:
indef obj
verb
def object
subject
trans verb
alveri yap (do shopping), arama yap (carry out a search), by yap
(cast a spell on someone), ay yap, kahve yap (make tea or coffee), cmle
yap (make a sentence), elinden geleni yap (do your best), ev ii yap (do
housework), giri yap (enter), hazrlk yap (get ready), hesap yap
(calculate), i yap (do work, do business with), ibirlii yap (work together),
iyilik yap (do a favour), kaza: yap (have an accident), konuma yap (make
a speech), makyaj yap (do ones make up), dev yap (do homework),
rejim yap (go on a diet), aka yap (make a joke), tatil yap (have a holiday,
vacation), tica:ret yap (trade), toplant yap (hold a meeting), yanllk yap
(make a mistake), yata yap (make the bed), yemek yap (cook, do the
cooking), yorum yap (comment on something).
The other verbs that are used together with nouns are ol, ile, and
kaydet. Their examples are as follows:
In the second person singular, one of the [mez] or [maz] negative making
allomorphs is used after the verb, which is followed by one of the personal
allomorphs [sin, sn]:
Gel-mez-sin.
(gel*mez*sin ) You do not come.
al-maz-sn. (a*l*maz*sn ) You do not work.
Oku-maz-sn. (o*ku*maz*sn ) You dont read.
Konu-maz-sn. (ko*nu*maz*sn ) You dont speak.
Atla-maz-sn. (at*la*maz*sn ) You dont jump.
Ka-n-maz-sn. (ka*n*maz*sn ) You dont avoid. (Reflexive)
As the third person singular takes a [] zero personal morpheme, only the
negation allomorphs [mez, maz] are used:
al-maz.
Oku-maz.
Yaz-maz.
Gr-mez.
Anla-maz.
Gl-mez.
Ye-mez.
-mez.
Uyu-maz.
Ka-n-maz.
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.
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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.
Kitap- oku-du-um.
(ki*ta*b / o*ku*dum )
I have read the book. (I have finished reading it.)
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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.
Geen hafta futbol oyna-ma-d-k.
(ge*en / haf*ta / fut*bol / oy*na*ma*dk )
We didn't play football last week.
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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?
Pazar gn futbol ma--/n/a m git-ti-in?
(pa*zar / g*n / fut*bol / ma**na /m / git*tin) (I am surprised.)
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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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!)
Ev dev-i-/n/i yap-ma-m m?
(ev / *de*vi*ni~ / yap*ma*m / m)
Does he say that he hasn't done his homework? (Anger and astonishment)
Daha kalk-ma-m m?
(da*ha / kalk*ma*m / m) (Surprise)
Do you say that he hasnt got up yet? (How lazy he is!)
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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.
(The /n/ and /y/ are the glides inserted between the successive i-i and e-e
vowels. The /k/ unvoiced consonant in ecek changes into the voiced //.)
Yamur ya-ma-/y/a.cak.
(ya*mur / ya*ma*ya*cak )
It is not going to rain.
(The /y/ glide is inserted between the successive a-a vowels.)
Positive question:
In positive questions, mi-/y/im?, mi-sin?, mi?, mi-/y/iz?, misin.iz?, (ler) mi? or their allomorphs are separately used:
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Negative question:
In the negative question form, [me] or [ma] negation allomorphs follow the
verb roots, stems or frames:
Biz-im-le gel-me-/y/e.cek mi-sin?
(bi*zim*le / gel*me*ye*cek / mi*sin )
Wont you come with us?
(The /y/ glide links the successive /e/ vowels.)
When the question words are involved, mi-/y/im, mi-sin, etc. are not
used:
Saat ka-ta ev-e dn-e.cek-sin?
(sa*at / ka*ta / e*ve / d*ne*cek*sin )
What time will you come back home?
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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. (One word) (The /e/ drops, and the /m/ attaches to /i/.)
(gel*mi*yor*lar*d )
They were not coming. (Four words)
Onlar- bekle-me-i.yor-du-uk. (Two words) (Bekle is transitive in Turkish.)
(on*la*r / bek*le*mi*yor*duk )
We were not waiting for them. (Six words)(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 a 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.
Uyu-ma-u.yor-du-um. (One word)
(u*yu*mu*yor*dum )
I wasn't sleeping. (Three words)
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?
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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?
The double underlined /e/ drops, the /m/ attaches to /i/ and the /y/ glide is
inserted between [mu] and [du]. Instead of Gitmiyor-lar myd?, Gitmiyor
muydular? is often heard.
When the question words are involved, the [mi, m, m, mu] allomorphs are
not used, and the verbs are in positive form:
Ne yap-.yor-du-un?
(ne / ya*p*yor*dun)
What were you doing?
Sana kim yardm et-i.yor-du? (Yardm etmek is intransitive in Turkish.)
(sa*na / kim / yar*dm / e*di*yor*du)
Who was helping you? (Help is transitive in English.)
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Snav son-a er-dik-i/n/-de iki saat-tir 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.)
Iklar sn-dk-/n/-de iki saat-tir ev dev-im-i yap-.yor-du-um.
(*k*lar / sn*d*n*de / i*ki / sa*at*tir / ev / *de*vi*mi / ya*p*yor*dum)
When the lights went off, I had been doing my homework for two hours.
Otobs durak-/n/-da bekle-i.yor-du-um.
(o*to*bs / du*ra*n*da / bek*li*yor*dum )
I was waiting at the bus stop. (Past Continuous)
Otobs durak-/n/-da iki saat-tir bekle-i.yor-du-um.
(o*to*bs / du*ra*n*da / i*ki / sa*at*tir / bek*li*yor*dum )
I had been waiting at the bus stop for two hours. (Past Perfect Continuous)
Sabah-le.yin kalk-tk-m-da saat-ler-dir yamur ya-.yor-du.
(sa*bah*le*yin / kalk*t*m*da / sa*at*ler*dir / ya*mur / ya**yor*du )
It had been raining for hours when I got up in the morning.
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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:
Gen-ken (ben) basketbol oyna-maz-d-m.
(gen*ken / bas*ket*bol / oy*na*maz*dm )
I didnt use(d) to play basketball when I was young.
Okul-a otobs-le git-mez-di-ik.
(o*ku*la / o*to*bs*le / git*mez*dik )
We didnt use(d) to go to school by bus.
Baba-am gzlk-ler-i-/n/i tak-ma-am-a izin ver-mez-di.
(ba*bam / gz*lk*le*ri*ni / tak*ma*ma / i*zin / ver*mez*di )
My father didnt use(d) to let me wear his eyeglasses.
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
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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.
Bitir-e.bil-ir-mi-im. (bi*ti*re*bi*lir*mi*im) They say that I can finish.
Bitir-e.mez-mi-sin. (bi*ti*re*mez*mi*sin) They say that you can't finish.
Bitir-e.mez mi/y/-mi-im? (bi*ti*re*mez / miy*mi*im) Do they say I can't finish?
al-a.maz-lar m/y/-m? (a*l*a*maz*lar / my*m) ... that they can't work?
Jack bir Rus kz--/n/ m sev-i.yor-mu?
(jack~ / bir / rus / k*z*n / m /se*vi*yor* mu ) (Surprise)
Do they say that Jack is (was) in love with a Russian girl?
Btn kzlar Jack'e ak-m-m.
(b*tn / kz*lar / ja*ke / a:*k*m*m )
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!)
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subject
verb
adverb
When I arrived at the airport, the plane had already taken off.
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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.
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-enme, 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:
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[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)
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:
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PERFECT MODALS
must have verb - [mi, m, m, mu] + [ol-ma.l]-[pers]
This perfect modal verb composition conveys a past concept of certainty.
Consider the following:
Grev-i-/n/i bitir-mi ol-ma.l. (Bitirmi is subject complement in Turkish.)
(g*re*vi*ni / bi*tir*mi / ol*ma*l )
He must have finished his duty. (I am sure he has finished it.)
Ev-den ayrl-m ol-ma.l.
(ev*den / ay*rl*m*ol*ma*l )
He must have left home. (I am sure he has left home.)
Uak in-mi ol-ma.l. (Liaison)
(u*ak / in*mi*ol*ma*l )
The plane must have landed. (I am sure it has landed. )
Ben-i anla-m ol-ma.l-sn. (Liaison)
(be*ni / an*la*m*ol*ma*l*sn )
You must have understood me.
(I am sure you (have) understood me.)
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Present Positive:
The compulsory subject 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.
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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.
stekli deil-sin.iz. (is*tek*li / de*il*si*niz)
You are not willing. (The sin.iz, sn.z, sn.z, sun.uz personal subject
allomorphs all mean siz: you.)
Yakkl deil-sin. (The sin, sn, sn, sun personal allomorphs all mean
singular sen: you)
/ya*k*k*l / de*il*sin)
You are not handsome.
Ev-de deil-ler. (The ler, lar personal allomorphs mean onlar: they.)
(ev*de / de*il*ler)
They are not at home.
Baba-am ev-de deil.
(ba*bam / ev*de / de*il)
My father is not at home.
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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:
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(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 adjective)
(yor*gun / g*r*n*yor*sun)
You look tired. (Look is a linking verb; tired is an adjective.)
Yaprak-lar sonbahar-da sarar-r. (Sarar means turn yellow.)
(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 subject 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. (One word)
(ev*dey*dim)
I was at home. (Four words)
Hazr-d-n.z. (One word)
(ha*zr*d*nz)
You were ready. (Three words)
.
Mutlu/y/-du-uk.
(mut*luy*duk)
We were happy.
Sarho-tu-lar.
(sar*ho*tu*lar)
They were drunk.
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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 subject allomorphs:
Yorgun deil-di-im.
(yor*gun / de*il*dim)
I was not tired. (I wasnt tired.)
Sorumlu deil-di-in.iz.
(so*rum*lu / de*il*di*niz)
You were not responsible. (You werent responsible.)
Ev-de deil-ler-di.
(ev*de / de*il*ler*di)
They were not at home. (They werent at home.)
Megul deil-di-ik.
(me*gul / de*il*dik)
We were not busy. (We werent busy.)
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?
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Negative question:
In negative question forms, the negative making adverb deil follows the
subject complement as they are in the following examples:
Dn okul-da deil mi/y/-di-in?
(dn / o*kul*da / de*il / miy*din)
Were you not at school yesterday? (Werent you at school?)
Masal ilgin deil mi/y/-di?
(ma*sal / il*gin / de*il / miy*di)
Wasnt the story interesting?
renci-ler ren-mek iin istekli deil mi/y/-di-ler?
(*ren*ci*ler / *ren*mek / i*in / is*tek*li / de*il / miy*di*ler)
Werent the students eager to learn?
Hazr deil mi/y/-di-in.iz?
(ha*zr / de*il / miy*di*niz)
Weret you ready?
Have been, has been, had been, will be
Kz karde-im on yl-dr retmen.
(kz / kar*de*im / on / yl*dr / *ret*men)
My sister has been a teacher for ten years.
Hava gn-dr ok souk.
(ha*va / / gn*dr / ok / so*uk)
It has been very cold for three days.
Oul-um yaknda doctor ol-a.cak.
(o*lum / ya*kn*da / dok*tor / o*la*cak)
My son will be a doctor soon.
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Present Modals
Positive:
ol-[a.bil-ir]-[personal subject allomorph] = can be or may be
Turkish modal verbs are used followed by subject complements attached
by one of the personal subject allomorphs: (ben) [im], (sen) [sin], (o) [],
(biz) [iz], (siz) [sin-iz], [onlar) [ler]:
Yorgun ol-a.bil-ir-im. (Possibility)
(yor*gun / o*la*bi*li*rim)
I may be tired.
Sorumlu ol-a.bil-ir-sin.
(so*rum*lu / o*la*bi*lir*sin)
You may be responsible.
Jack bahe-de ol-a.bil-ir.
(jack / bah*e*de / o*la*bi*lir)
Jack may be in the garden.
Megul ol-a.bil-ir-iz.
(me*gul / o*la*bi*li*riz)
We may be busy.
steksiz ol-a.bil-ir-sin.iz.
(is*tek*siz / o*la*bi*lir*si*niz)
You may be unwilling.
Turist ol-a.bil-ir-ler.
(tu*rist / o*la*bi*lir*ler)
They may be tourists.
Negative:
ol-ma-/y/a.bil-ir-[personal subject allomorph] = may not be
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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 bro-um-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?
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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?
Drst ol-a.maz m-sn?
(d*rust / o*la*maz / m*sn)
Cant you be honest?
Jack futbol oynuyor ol-a.maz m?
(jack / fut*bol / oy*nu*yor / o*la*maz / m)
Cant Jack be playing football?
Susuz ol-a.maz m-/y/z?
(su*suz / o*la*maz / m*yz)
Cant we be innocent?
Dikkatli ol-a.maz m-sn.z?
(k*e*de / de*il / mi*si*niz)
Cant you be careful?
Sabrl ol-a.maz-lar m?
(sa*br*l / o*la*maz*lar / m)
Cant they be patient?
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:
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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. (Necessity)
(sa*br*sz / ol*ma*ma*l*ym)
I mustnt be impatient.
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.
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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-le.yin 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 kzar-m 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
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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?
Yardmc ol-a.maz m-sn.z?
(yar*dm*c / o*la*maz / m*s*nz)
Cant you be helpful?
Syle-dik-i doru ol-a.maz m?
(sy*le*di*i / do*ru / o*la*maz / m)
Cant what he said be true?
Baarl ol-a.maz m-/y/z?
(ba*a*r*l / o*la*maz / m*yz)
Cant we be successful?
Bro-da ol-a.maz m-sn.z?
(b*ro* da / o*la*maz / m*s*nz)
Cant you be in the office?
Sorumsuz ol-a.maz-lar m?
(so*rum*lu / o*la*maz*lar / m)
Cant they be irresponsible?
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.
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verb
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verb
adjective
ack
Aptal
aptalla
Bulutlu
bulutlan
irkin
irkinle ugly
get ugly
delir
go crazy
Deli
Deerli
dikkatli
dikkat et careful
be careful
Dzgn
dzelt
Eri
eril
bent
bend
Eki
eki
sour
turn sour
Fakir
fakirle
poor
Gen
genle young
get younger
gerekle true
come true
Derin
crazy
verb + adjective
Gerek
G
gle
Gl
glen
strong
Gzel
gzelle
Hazr
hazrlan
ready
Islak
slan
wet
yi
iyile
Kaba
kabala
get ready
get wet
dark
get dark
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verb
adjective
verb + adjective
Kaygl
kayglan worried
Kirli
kirlen
dirty
ksal
short
Kskan kskan
envious
envy
Kzgn
kz
angry
be angry
Kolay
kolayla easy
get easy
Kt
ktle
bad
grow worse
Kuru
kuru
dry
dry
Kk
kl
small
Mor
morar
purple
Neeli
neelen
cheerful cheer up
Olgun
olgunla
ripe
Pahal
pahalan
Parlak
parla
shiny
Rahat
rahatla
comfortable relax
Renkli
renklen
Sakin
sakinle
calm
calm down
Serin
serinle
cool
become cooler
Sert
sertle
Sinirli
sinirlen
become purple
ripen
shine
Sklm skl
bored
be bored
Souk
cold
sou
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verb
tembelle
Umutlu umutlan
adjective
lazy
verb + adjective
grow lazier
hopeful
become hopeful
Uslu
uslan
Uzun
uza
long
zgn
zl
sorry
be (feel) sorry
Yanl
yanl
wrong
be mistaken
yalan
old
grow older
Yeil
yeillen
green
turn green
Yoksul
yoksulla
poor
get poor
Yksek yksel
high
rise
Zayf
zayfla
weak
lose weight
Zengin
zenginle
rich
get rich
Zor
zorla
Note: The adjectives or nouns that are used following the linking verbs are
called subject complements.
Yksel Gknel
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