DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p.

DLI
Basic
Grammar
Supplement

-- from the DLI language books --

(most of Books 1 – 10 and some of Books 11 – 14, corresponding to
material covered in Pollard’s Teach Yourself Turkish)

(Note: the remaining DLI material is covered in the Advanced Grammar Notes)
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 2

Grammar Notes - Lesson 17

(Lessons 17 & 18 explain all the grammar that was introduced in Lessons 1 – 16.)

Noun Endings

Grammar Analysis

masa - table
masaya - to the table, onto the table, into the table, at the table
masada - at the table, on the table, in the table
masadan - from the table, through the table

masaya masada masadan

In order to show the relationship of a noun or pronoun to other words in the sentence, a suffix is
added. (Turkish has no prefixes.)

I. Dative Case:
To indicate the idea of to, onto, into (nearly always implying motion toward) we add the suffix:
Nouns ending in a consonant Nouns ending in a vowel
-e -ye
-a -ya

This is called the dative case. This suffix is added only to the indirect object of the verb.

Whether we use e or a is determined by the last vowel of the word (this agreement between vowels
is called vowel harmony).

Examples:
ev eve adam adama
tebeşir tebeşire kadın kadına
göz göze kol kola
süt süte tuz tuza

When the word ends in a vowel, a y is placed before the suffix.

Examples:
pencere pencereye masa masaya
kedi kediye kapı kapıya
paraşütçü paraşütçüye pipo pipoya
kutu kutuya
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 3

II. Locative Case:

To indicate the idea of in, at, or on (location in the widest sense) we add:
de or te
da or ta

This is called the locative case. This suffix is also added only to the indirect object of the verb.

The vowel harmony is identical to the dative. But as the suffix begins with a consonant, there is no
need to insert a y after words ending in a vowel. However, there is consonant harmony. Words
ending in a vowel or voiced consonant (b, c, d, g, ğ, j, l, m, n, r, v, y, z) take de or da and words
ending in an unvoiced consonant (ç, f, h, k, p, s, ş, t) take te or ta.

ev evde adam adamda

tebeşir tebeşirde kadın kadında
göz gözde kol kolda
pencere pencerede tuz tuzda
kedi kedide masa masada
parşütçü paraşütçüde kapı kapıda
pipo pipoda kutu kutuda
ceket cekette çavus çavuşta
üç üçte sınıf sınıfta
dört dörtte pilot pilotta
cephanelik cephanelikte mektup mektupta

III. Ablative Case

To indicate the idea of from, through (nearly always motion through and away from) we
add the suffix:
den or ten
dan or tan

This is called the ablative case. Again this suffix is added only to the indirect object of the verb.

The vowel harmony and the consonant harmony is the same as the locative.

ev evden adam adamdan

tebeşir tebeşirden kadın kadından
göz gözden kol koldan
pencere pencereden tuz tuzdan
kedi kediden masa masadan
paraşütçü paraşütçüden kapı kapıdan
pipo pipodan kutu kutudan
ceket ceketten çavus çavuştan
üç üçten sınıf sınıftan
dört dörtten pilot pilottan
cephanelik cephanelikten mektup mektuptan
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 4

IV. -Ki

The suffix -ki added to the locative case of a noun odada, pronoun bende or an adverb or place
orada means that which is.

The resulting word odadaki, bendeki, oradaki may be used as a pronoun or adjective.
When used as an adjective it always qualifies a noun.

As an adjective
Masadaki kalem (the pencil on the table)
Odadaki talebeler (the students in the room)
Oradaki iskemle (the chair over there)

As a pronoun
When used as a pronoun it is used by itself.
It means the one which is.
Masadaki kalem benim; kutudaki kimin?
(The pencil on the table is mine; whose is the one in the box?)

Note: -ki does not change, according to the vowel harmony. The vowel i does not change
according to vowel harmony. Exception: It is sometimes added directly to dün, gün, or
compounds with gün, it becomes kü.

dünkü (yesterday’s)
o günkü (that day’s)
bugünkü (today’s)
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 5

Grammar Notes - Lesson 18

Other Noun Endings

1. Definite Article:
There is no word in Turkish that corresponds to the English the. Only the context tells us
whether to use it or not in translating into English.
Et çok pahalı. Meat is very expensive.
Et dolapta. The meat is in the cupboard.

2. Subject:
A word that is the subject is in the simple form. It has no case suffix.

3. Indefinite Object:
When a word is the direct object of a verb and is indefinite it remains in the simple form.
Kahve içiyoruz. We are drinking coffee.
Bir çocuk görüyorum. I see a child.

4. Definite Object: (Accusative case)

When the direct object of a verb is definite (when it refers to a definite person, thing, or
place), it takes the definite objective suffix i (ı, u, ü), and when the word ends in a vowel then the
letter y is inserted between the word and the suffix; yi, (yı, yu, yü), the word is then in the
accusative case.
Adamı görüyorum. I see the man.
Kalemi alıyorum. I am taking the pencil.
Çocukları görüyoruz. We see the children.
O kitabı istiyorum. I want that book.
Bu çayı içmeyiniz. Don’t drink this tea.

Masayı alıyor. He is taking the table.

Öğrenciyi çağırıyorum, I am calling the student.
Sütçüyü biliyorum. I know the milkman.

5. Verb “to be” Present Tense

The verb to be in the present tense is a suffix and not an independent word.

after after after after

e or I a or ı ö or ü o or u

I am -(y)im -(y)ım -(y)üm -(y)um

Thou art -sin -sın -sün -sun
He is -dir (tir) -dır(tır) -dür(tür) -dur(tur)
We are -(y)iz -(y)ız -(y)üz -(y)uz
You are -siniz -sınız -sünüz -sunuz
They are -dir(ler) -dır(lar) -dür(ler) -dur(lar)
-tir(ler) -tır(lar) -tür(ler) -tur(lar)

Note: The verb “to be” is never stressed in any of its forms.

See lesson 27 for the singular form thou art.

See lesson 28 for the use or omission of dir in the third person.
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 6

(y): Because (I am) -im and (we are) -iz begin with a vowel, a (y) is placed before them if they
follow a word that ends in a vowel.
asker - askerim
öğretmen - öğretmeniz
but öğrenci - öğrenciyim
hasta - hastayım
iyi - iyiyim
orada - oradayım
evde - evdeyiz
arkadaşı - arkadaşıyız

6. Plural: (verb “to be”)

A. In spoken language it is quite common to drop the ler in the verb if the subject is in
the plural.
Çocuklar evde - The children are at home

B. Inanimate plural subjects take a singular verb

Bu dağlar çok yüksek. - The mountains are very high.

7. The Plural Suffix is ler or lar, added directly to the noun before any other suffix. It is always
the first suffix.

kalem - pencil yaprak - leaf

kalemler - pencils yapraklar - leaves

çocuk - child kutu - box

çocuklar - çocuklar kutular - boxes

adam - man öküz - ox

adamlar - men öküzler - oxen

koyun - sheep
koyunlar - sheep

8. Negative of “to be”

The negative of to be is expressed by the word değil (not) with the proper ending.
değilim - I am not.
değilsin - Thou art not.
değil (dir) - He is not.
değiliz - We are not.
değilsiniz - You are not
değil (dirler) - They are not.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 7

9. Interrogative (verb “to be”)

This is formed by mi, mı, mü, mu, the interrogative particle, followed by the verb to be
endings.
Asker miyim? - Am I a soldier?
Asker misin? - Are you a soldier?
Asker mi (dir)? - Is he a soldier?
Asker miyiz? - Are we soldiers?
Asker misiniz? - Are you soldiers?
Asker mi (dirler)? - Are they soldiers?

10. Mi (interrogative particle)

Mi This is the interrogative particle and makes a question out of a statement. It is
always written separately.
ben - I
ben mi - I?
It accurately records what in English would be indicated by stress but which could never be
a grammatical form.

Kitabı size veriyorum. Kitabı size mi veriyorum?

I am giving you the book Am I giving you the book?

Kitabı mı size veriyorum? Kitabı size veriyor muyum?

Am I giving you the book? Am I giving you the book?

And if you want to emphasize I, “Am I giving you the book?” - we use the pronoun ben which
otherwise would be unnecessary and say:
Kitabı size ben mi veriyorum?
Mi immediately follows the word we wish to emphasize.

11. ci (occupation or profession)

The suffix ci (cı, cu, cü) or çi (çı, çu, çü) after vowels and voiced consonants, denotes
regular occupation or profession.
kapı - door
kapıcı - doorman
süt - milk
sütçü - milkman
tütün - tobacco
tütüncü - tobacconist
ne? - what?
neci? - of what profession?

12. li (forms adjectives)

When the suffix li (lı, lu, lü) is added to a noun it forms an adjective meaning:
A. Possessing whatever the noun represents.
kuvvet - strength
kuvvetli - strong
tuz - salt
tuzlu - salty
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 8

kıymet - value
kıymetli - valuable
dört oda - four rooms
dört odalı - having four rooms (speaking of a house)

B. When added to a word that is the name of an article of clothing, it simply means
someone wearing or dressed in whatever the noun indicates.
şapka - hat
şapkalı - a person wearing a hat
mavi elbise - blue dress
mavi elbiseli - someone wearing a blue dress
siyah kravat - black tie
siyah kravatlı - someone wearing a black tie

C. When added to names of places or towns it signifies one who lives in or was born in
the particular place or town.
İstanbul - city of İstanbul
İstanbullu - one who is from or was brought up in İstanbul

Teksas - Texas
Teksaslı - a Texan

Avrupa - Europe
Avrupalı - European

12. -siz (without)

-siz (sız, suz, süz) means without
kuvvetli - strong
kuvvetsiz - weak (without strength)
tuzsuz - without salt
kıymetsiz - valueless
gözlüksüz - without glasses
penceresiz odalar - rooms without windows

13. Possessive Compounds:

A noun without a suffix (nominative) may precede a possessed noun forming a compound.
The first noun is not specific or definite and the resultant compound functions like a single noun.

çocuğun ayakkabısı (the child’s shoes) - çocuk ayakkabısı (children’s shoes)

kadının şapkası(the woman’s hat) - kadın şapkası (women’s hats)

askerin ceketi (the soldier’s coat) - asker ceketi (soldiers’ coats)

 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 9

Grammar Notes - Lesson 19

1. İzafet (possessive)

Possession (my book, the man’s money) or relationship (our friend, the child’s progress) is
indicated by a construction called the izafet construction.
benim kitabım - my book
adamın parası - the man’s money
bizim arkadaşımız - our friend
çocuğun gelişmesi - the child’s progress

The first element of this construction (benim, adamın, bizim, çocuğun) takes the suffix -in (ın, un,
ün). The two exceptions are benim (my) and bizim (our, first person singular and plural,) which
take -im.
The noun or pronoun is then said to be in the genitive case.
When the word ends in a vowel the letter n is placed before the suffix (only in the third
person singular).

after consonant after vowel

asker - askerin talebe - talebenin
subay - subayın masa - masanın
pilot - pilotun kutu - kutunun
göz - gözün sütçü - sütçünün

The second element of the izafet construction, kitabım, parası, arkadaşımız, gelişmesi, the thing,
person, or quality belonging to or related to some other person or thing (the first element) takes the
possessive suffix.

Table of Possessive Suffixes

After Consonants After Vowels

my - -im (ım, um, üm) evim -m
thy - -in (ın, un, ün) evin -n
his - -i (ı, u, ü) evi -si (sı, su, sü)
our - -imiz (ımız, umuz, ümüz) evimiz -miz (mız, muz, müz)
your - -iniz (ınız, unuz, ünüz) eviniz -niz (nız, nuz, nüz)
their - -leri, ları evleri -leri, ları
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 10

2. The verb:
The verb has three distinct elements:
1. stem
2. tense-suffix
3. personal ending
A. The stem determines the meaning
B. The tense-suffix determines time or mode.
C. The personal ending determines person and number.

The stem and tense-suffix are altered by adding suffixes.

To get the stem the mek or mak suffix of the infinitive is dropped.
sevmek - sev (to love)
sevdirmek - sevdir (to make one love)
sevdirebilmek - sevdirebil (to be able to make one love)
To this stem is added the tense-suffix. The third person singular in all tenses and modes is
simply the stem and the tense-suffix, which for convenience we call the tense-base. To this base
the personal endings are added.

3. Present Time

In the present tense the tense-suffix is -yor preceded by i, (ı, u, ü) according to the nature of the
preceding vowel. The personal ending is as follows:
seviyorum
seviyorsunuz This we will call the Type I personal
seviyor endings. It is the most common.
seviyoruz
seviyorsunuz
seviyorlar

It will be noticed that the Type I endings for the present tense of the verb “to be”.
çavuşum Since “yor” is a constant, the personal endings will
çavuşsunuz always be the same -um, -sunuz, -uz, -lar.
çavuş
çavuşuz
çavuşsunuz

When the stem ends in a vowel, it is dropped. Then the last vowel of the stem determines the
vowel preceding the yor (which never changes).
aramak - ar (a) - arıyor
oku - ok (u) - okuyor
söyle - söyl (e) - söylüyor

If the stem is a single syllable ending in a low vowel, it changes to its corresponding high vowel.
ye becomes yiyor
de become diyor
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 11

4. Preterit
The suffix of the past tense is -di (dı, du, dü)
sevdi - he loved
aldı - he took
koydu - he put
gördü - he saw

To this is added the personal endings. The preterit takes the Type II ending.
sevdim aldım koydum gördüm
sevdiniz aldınız koydunuz gördünüz
sevdi aldı koydu gördü
sevdik aldık koydık gördük
sevdiniz aldınız koydunuz gördünüz
sevdiler aldılar koydular gördüler

If the root ends in an unvoiced consonant the di becomes ti (tı, tu, tü).
içtim yaptım konuştum
gittim baktım
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 12

Grammar Notes - Lesson 20

1. Comparison of adjectives and adverbs:
daha - more
en - most
A B C
çok - much daha çok - more en çok - most
fena - bad daha fena - worse en fena - worst
kısa - short daha kısa - shorter en kısa - shortest
çabuk - fast daha çabuk - faster en çabuk - fastest

Kırmızı kalem daha kısa.

The red pencil is shorter.

Kırmızı kalem siyah kalemden daha kısa.

The red pencil is shorter than the black pencil.

Than is expressed by the -dan suffix.

Bu ondan daha güzel.
This is better than that.

Bu en iyi talebe.
This is the best student.

Bu ev en güzel ev.
This house is the most beautiful house.
2. İzafet:
In order to indicate possession or relationship we use the izafet construction.
evin kapısı - the door of the house
çocuğun ayakkabısı - the shoes of the child
When the first term of the izafet construction is definite, i.e., the house (a particular house) or the
child (a particular child) it takes the genitive suffix -in.
If it is not definite, no suffix is added.
ev kapısı - the door of a house
çocuk ayakkabısı - the shoes of a child

The nouns ev and çocuk function like an adjective and the relationship is a qualifying relationship.
In ev kapısı the door is the door of any house, i.e., a house door; and in çocuk ayakkabısı the
shoes may be the shoes of any child, i.e., a child’s shoes.
To form the plurals of such compounds the plural suffix “ler” or “lar” is added before the
suffix -i (ı, u, ü) or -si (sı, su, sü) denoting the qualifying relationship.
el çantası - hand bag
el çantaları - hand bags

çay fıncanı - tea cup

çay fincanları - tea cups

If the possessive suffix is used the suffix denoting the qualifying relationship (which is identical
with the third person singular possessive suffix) is dropped:
el çantası - a hand bag
el çantanız - your hand bag
el çantam - my hand bag
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 13

Grammar Notes - Lesson 21

1. Interrogative of the Preterit:

We saw in lesson 19 that there were two types of personal endings.
Type I Type II
im m
sin n
- -
iz k
siniz niz
ler ler

All verbs which have the Type II personal ending form their interrogative by particle mi (mı, mu,
mü) after the personal ending.
gönderdim gönderdim mi?
aldın aldın mı?
gördü gördü mü?
bulduk bulduk mu?
verdiniz verdiniz mi?
yürüdüler yürüdüler mi?

2. Imperative:
We use the imperative when we ask people to do something or give orders. The imperative
form exists in the second and third persons.
2nd singular (informal) gel - come
2nd singular (formal) geliniz - come
3rd singular gelsin - let him come
2nd plural (informal) gelin - come
2nd plural (formal) geiniz - come
3rd plural gelsinler - let them come

The negative form is regular

2nd singular (informal) gelme - don’t come
2nd singular (formal) gelmeyiniz - don’t come
3rd singular gelmesin - let him not come
2nd plural (informal) gelmeyin - don’t come
2nd plural (formal) gelmeyiniz - don’t come
3rd plural gelmesinler - let them not come

There is also an interrogative form where it makes sense; i.e., in the third person.
gelsin mi? - do you want him to come?
gelmesin mi? - don’t you want him (not) to come?
gelsinler mi? - do you want them to come?
gelmesinler mi? - don’t you want them (not) to come?

The second person singular of the imperative is the verb-stem: to this is added the personal endings
found only in the imperative.
3rd person singular sin
2nd person plural (y)in, (y)iniz
3rd person plural sinler
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 14

Note: The suffix sin has three distinct functions.

(1) 2nd person singular of the verb to be.
informal (askersin) - thou art a soldier
informal (öğrencisin) - thou art a student
It is never accented.

(2) It is the 2nd person singular personal ending Type I.

(seviyorsun) - thou art loving
informal (seversin) - thou lovest
(seveceksin) - thou shalt love
It is never accented and is never attached to the verb-stem but to the tense-base.

(3) It is the third person singular imperative ending and is attached directly to the verb-stem.
(sevsin) - let him love
The sin in sevsin is accented.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 15

Grammar Notes - Lesson 22

1. Past Tense
With the exception of one tense (the aorist) the negative is formed by adding the suffix -me
or -ma to the verb-stem. To this new negative verb-stem the tense suffix and the personal endings
are added, exactly as in the affirmative.

Present Past
Affirmative Negative Affirmative Negative

seviyorum sevmiyorum sevdim sevmedim

seviyorsunuz sevmiyorsunuz sevdiniz sevmediniz
seviyor semiyor sevdi sevmedi
seviyoruz sevmiyoruz sevdik sevmedik
seviyorsunuz sevmiyorsunuz sevdiniz sevmediniz
seviyorlar sevmiyorlar sevdiler sevmediler

There is a strong stress on the syllable preceding the -me or-ma. This is very characteristic of all
negative forms.

2. Interrogative

With verbs that have the Type I personal ending, i.e. -im, -sin, -iz, -siniz, -ler, the
interrogative is exactly like the interrogative of the verb to be.
askerim asker miyim?
hastasınız hasta mısınız?
oradalar oradalar mı?
evde miyim? geliyor muyum?
evde misiniz? geliyor musunuz?
evde mi? geliyor mu?
evde miyiz? geliyor muyuz?
evde misiniz? geliyor musunuz?
evdeler mi? geliyorlar mı?

This means that in the indicative with the exception of the preterit all the tenses form their
interrogative in this way.
asker miyim? girdim mi?
asker misiniz? girdiniz mi?
asker mi? girdi mi?
asker miyiz? girdik mi?
asker misiniz? girdiniz mi?
onlar asker mi? girdiler mi? or onlar girdi mi?
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 16

Grammar Notes - Lesson 23

ile - with, by means of
gibi - like
için - for
The English prepositions with, like, for, are represented by words following the words to
which they refer and are call postpositions.
The pronouns kim, ben, sen, o, biz, siz, bu and şu but not the plural ler take the genitive
ending before the postpositions ile, gibi, için.

kimin için - for whom

benim gibi - like me
onun ile or onunla - with him
but onlar gibi - like them
onlar için - for them
Other words remain unchanged.

o adamla - with that man

arkadaşım için - for my friend
asker gibi - like a soldier

ile
In conversation the suffix form -le or -la is far more common.
sabunla - with soap
şekerle - with sugar

If attached to a word ending in a vowel the form is -yle or-yla.

kahveyle - with coffee
yüzbaşıyla - with the captain
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 17

Grammar Notes - Lesson 24

1. İzafet and cases:
The plural suffix ler is always the first. This is followed by the suffix showing possession
and then the case suffix.
oda - room odalarınız - your rooms
odalar - rooms odalarınızda - in your rooms

2. The verb “to have”

In order to say “There is a pencil on the table”, we use “var” with the table in the locative
case. We say “Masada bir kalem var”. Var means “existent” and yok “non existent”.
In order to say “I have a pencil” we use var and add a possessive suffix to pencil -
“Kalemim var”which means “there is a pencil of mine” or “a pencil of mine exists.” “I don’t own
a pencil” or “I don’t have a pencil of mine” is “Kalemim yok.”
When we say “Kaleminiz var mı?” we mean “do you possess or own a pencil?” When we
say “Sizde kalem var mı?” we mean “Do you have a pencil on you?”; not ownership but present
possession is stressed. Of course, with concepts so close in meaning there is some overlap.

3. The Infinitive:
The infinitive is the name of an action. It is a noun.
In Turkish there are four infinitive forms. The two most commonly met with are the
infinitive with the suffixes mek or mak and me or ma.
gitmek gitme
almak alma
okumak okuma
The infinitive with the mek suffix can take all case endings except the genitive.
Yüzmeğe gittim - I went (off) to swim
Yüzmeği çok severim - I love to swim very much.
Okumaktayım - I am (at) reading.
Yalan söylemekten kokarım - I am afraid to tell lies.
The infinitive with the me suffix can take possessive suffixes as well as all case endings.
Bu çok konuşmanın neticesidir: This is the result of talking too much.
(Too much talking’s result.)
Gitmeniz lazım: You have to go (Your going is necessary)
Gitmesini istemiyorum. I don’t want him to go.
Gelmesinde ne zarar var? What harm is there in his coming?
Bunu böyle yapmalarına hayret ediyorum. I am astonished at their doing it this way.

The negative of the infinitive is regular in form:

bilmek - bilmemek verme - vermeme
aramak - aramamak görme - görmeme

The infinitive suffix is added directly to the stem of the verb.

bil - know bilmek - to know
bilme - not know bilmemek - not to know (to not know)
bildir - let someone know bildirme - don’t let someone know
bildirmek - to let someone know bildirmemek - not to let someone know
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 18

Grammar Notes - Lesson 25

Benimki, onunki
We saw in lesson 17 that ki attached to a noun or pronoun in the locative case could be both
an adjective and a pronoun.
bendeki - the one I have
bendeki kalem - the pencil which I have

When ki is attached to a pronoun or noun in the genitive case it is always a pronoun.

benimki - mine
Ali’ninki - Ali’s (the one which belongs to Ali)

Kırmızısı, küçüğü
kırmızısı - the red one
küçüğü - the small one
biri - one of them, or someone

By adding a third person suffix to an adjective or to numerals we form pronouns. These usually
refer to a previously mentioned class of things.
uzunu - the long one of the things mentioned.

It can also be indefinite as in biri seni istiyor - someone wants you.

Here in biri - one of “them”, “them” is vague as in “they think” or “they say.”

meden önce: before

In order to express the adverb before, we attach meden önce to the verb-stem. Meden is
subject to vowel harmony and with a verb-stem whose last vowel is one of the back vowels (a, ı, o,
u), the suffix is madan.
gelmeden önce - before coming

(gel-me-de-nön-ce) It is clear from the stress, which falls on the syllable immediately preceding
the meden önce that the suffix me is the negative suffix and not the light infinitive suffix me.

If there is a pronoun or noun before the adverbial clause formed by meden önce the subject
of the main verb is also the subject of the adverbial clause.
Sabah kahvesini içmeden önce sigara içmiyorum.
I don’t smoke before I have the morning coffee.

However, if the adverbial clause refers to someone or something other than the subject of the main
verb this is indicated by using the appropriate noun or pronoun before the -meden önce
construction.
Ahmet gelmeden önce gittim.
I left before Ahmet came.

Ders bitmeden önce gitmek istiyor.

He wants to leave before the lesson is finished.

The form meden önce never changes no matter what the tense or mode of the main verb
may be. However, the notion of time represented by the tense of the main verb is carried over to
the adverbial clause.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 19

Gitmeden önce telefon etti.

He phoned before he left.

Gitmeden önce telefon edecek.

He’ll phone before he leaves.

Gitmeden önce telefon et!

Phone before you leave!

Ordinal Numbers:

Ordinal numbers are formed by adding -nci (ncı, ncu, ncü) to numbers ending in a vowel:
iki - ikinci - second
altı - altıncı - sixth
yedi - yedinci - seventh

and inci (ıncı, uncu, üncü) to numbers ending in a consonant:

bir - birinci - first
üç - üçüncü - third
sekiz - sekizinci - eighth
dokuz - dokuzuncu - ninth

Note: Son which means end becomes sonuncu which means last. Kaç (how many?) can also take
the suffix inci to form the question kaçıncı? (What is its position in the series?) By replacing kaç
with the appropriate number, i.e., on - ten, or yirmi beş - twenty-five, you get onuncu - tenth or
yirmi beşinci - twenty-fifth, to show its position in the series.
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 20

Grammar Notes - Lesson 26

Preterit of verb ‘to be’:

The verb ‘to be’ is made up of a number of words of different origins. For the infinitive,
olmak is used, which means to become, to ripen, to occur. We saw in the present tense the verb
‘to be’ never occurs as an independent word. It is found only as a suffix. So we cannot say simply
‘I am’ in answer to a question.
The preterit of the verb ‘to be’ is based on a stem i. In fact the infinitive of ‘to be’ should be
imek only no such word exists.
To this stem i the preterit suffix is added.
idim - I was idik - we were
idin - thou wert idiniz - you were
idi - he was idiler - they were

These can be independent words but even as independent words they are never accented. However,
the tendency of the verb ‘to be’ to become a suffix is so strong that it is used mostly as a suffix.
asker idim - askerdim
şoför idim - şofördüm
adam idi - adamdı

When used as a suffix the i of idim disappears and when the word ends in a vowel i changes
to a y. The suffix -dim is subject to consonant and vowel harmony.

Vowel harmony:
asker Askerdim. - I was a soldier.
şoför Şofördü. - I was a driver.
yorgun Yorgunduk. - We were tired.
subay Subaydınız. - You were an officer.

After words ending in a vowel:

hasta Hastaydım. - I was sick.
evde Evdeydik. - We were at home.
kuru Kuruydu. - It was dry.
kırmızı Kırmızıydı. - It was red.

After words ending in voiceless consonants:

çavuş Çavuştum. - I was a sergeant.
kitap Kitaptı. - It was a book.
hafif Hafifti. - It was light.
arkadaş Arkadaştık. - We were friends.

Note: After the locative which is -de or -da it will always be deydim or daydım. This with its
concept (was at, in or on) should be learned as a single unit.
I was in - -deydim
I was in the house. - Evdeydim.
I was in your house. - Evinizdeydim.
I was in their house. - Evlerindeydim.

they were in - deydiler

They were in İstanbul. - İstanbul’daydılar.
They were in the army. - Ordudaydılar.
They were in Monterey. - Monterey’deydiler.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 21

Interrogative:
The interrogative of the idim is almost always mi combined with idim.
miydim (mi idim)
mıydım (mı idim)
muydum (mu idim)
müydüm (mü idim)

Note: These forms which are composed of two elements (mi and idim) or in the present (mi and
-im) and form a single unit should be learned as a single unit.
miyim? - am I? miydim? - was I?
misiniz? - are you? miydiniz? - were you?
mi? - is he? miydi? - was he?
miyiz? - are we? miydik? - were we?

Negative:
In the negative, ‘değil’ combines with ‘idim’ to form değildim.
değildim değildik
değildin değildiniz
değildi diğildiler

vardı, yoktu
Var and yok used as there is and there is not are actually var(dır) and yok(tur). However
in the present tense, the -dir is rarely used, but the past tense -di must be used.
there was - vardı
there was not - yoktu

Sizde bir mektup vardı.

You had a letter.

Benim güzel bir kitabım vardı.

I had a beautiful book.

Onun otomobili yoktu.

He didn’t have a car.

The interrogative of vardı and yoktu will always be var mıydı? and yok muydu?
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 22

Grammar Notes - Lesson 27

Sen
‘Sen’ means ‘thou’. It is used when addressing intimate friends, children, and a person of
lower rank than oneself.
A child will nearly always address his parents as ‘siz’ and the parents will always address
the children as ‘sen’. When addressing God we say ‘sen’.
(1) the suffix for the verb ‘to be’ and the personal ending, type I, is ‘sin’
(2) for the personal ending, type II, n
(3) for the possessive, in or n
Note: the iz of siniz, iniz and niz is dropped.

Siz Sen
masanız - your table masan - thy table
kaleminiz - your pencil kalemin - thy pencil

talebesiniz - you are a student talebesin - thou art a student

askerdiniz - you were a soldier askerdin - thou wert a soldier

gidiyorsunuz - you are going gidiyorsun - thou art going

gidersiniz - you go gidersin - thou goest
geldiniz - you came geldin - thou camest
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 23

Grammar Notes - Lesson 28

-dir -is -dirler -are

In general usage, when a statement refers to a fact which has validity for that particular
instance or is a personal opinion, -dir is not used.
Annem evde. - My mother is at home.
Bu kalem sarı. - This pencil is yellow.
Burası çok güzel. - It is very nice here.

Plural:
In ‘neredeler?’ (where are they?), the -dir is omitted but -ler has to be used because the
subject is not mentioned. Nerede? would be ‘where is he?’ The answer to neredeler? is:
Oradalar. - They are there.

However, if the statement is a historical fact or has permanent validity or is in the nature of a
general statement, we use -dir.
Mississippi Amerika’nın en büyük nehridir.
Mississippi is America’s largest river.

Kurşun ağırdır. - Lead is heavy.

When I say:
Bunu yapmak kolay değil. - It isn’t easy to do this.

I may mean I see that it isn’t easy, or I find that it isn’t easy, or that you will find it isn’t easy, etc.
It applies to this particular instance and to us. But if I say:
Bunu yapmak kolay değildir. - It isn’t easy to do this.

I mean that no one will find this an easy thing to do at any time.

Olmak
The infinitive olmak has two meanings.
1. olmak means ‘to be’
hasta olmak - to be sick
orada olmak - to be there
asker olmak - to be a soldier

In this sense of ‘to be’, olmak appears only as the infinitive.

We have already seen how the ‘present tense’ (see lesson 19) and the preterit (see lesson 26) are
formed. It is irregular, the only irregular verb in Turkish.

2. The second meaning of ‘olmak’ is ‘to become’, ‘to occur’ and ‘to mature’ and this is
what ‘olmak’ properly means. When used in this sense it is entirely regular.
What is important is to realize that ‘oluyorum’ means ‘I am becoming’ and NOT ‘I am’.
Oldum means I became and NOT I was.

Example:
Hastayım. - I am sick.
Hasta oluyorum. - I am becoming sick.

Hastaydım. - I was sick.

Hasta oldum. - I became sick.
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 24

However, these two different verbs have the same infinitive: hasta olmak.
Note: For the future, the same form is used for the two different meanings. The future of olmak
is regular. It is formed by adding the future tense suffix ‘acak’ to the verb root ‘ol’ to form the
tense-base olacak.
So, hasta olacağım means either I shall be or I shall become sick.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 25

Grammar Notes - Lesson 29

Future Tense:
The tense-suffix for the future is -ecek or -acak.
In the first person singular and plural the k becomes ğ because the personal endings begin
with a vowel -im and -iz.
vereceğim yapacağım
vereceksin yapacaksın
verecek yapacak
vereceğiz yapacağız
vereceksiniz yapacaksınız
verecekler yapacaklar
If the stem ends in a vowel, ‘y’ is placed before the tense-suffix.
okuyacağım yürüyeceğim
söyleyeceğim arayacağım

Words ending in ‘k’:

If a word of more than one syllable ending in k has a suffix beginning with a vowel, the k
becomes ğ (soft g).
bardak bardağım bardakta
kaşık kaşığı kaşıklar
tabak tabağımız tabaktan

This rule also applies to words borrowed from other languages.

elektrik elektriği elektrikten
(electricity)
lastik lastiğin lastikten
(rubber)

Exceptions:
1. In a large number of words borrowed from Arabic and Persian the ‘k’ remains
unchanged.
ittifak ittifakın
iştiyak iştiyaka

2. In words of one syllable ‘k’ remains unchanged.

kök kökü
tek teki
ok oku
ak akı

Note: In two very common words, çok (many), and yok (non-existent), the ‘k’ becomes ‘ğ’.
çok çoğumuz
yok yoğu
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 26

Grammar Notes - Lesson 30

Future Interrogative:
The future has a regular interrogative form.
There are two principal types of personal endings of verbs.
Type I Type II:
Is like the present tense of the verb ‘to be’
veriyorum verdim
veriyorsun verdin
veriyor verdi
veriyoruz verdik
veriyorsunuz verdiniz
veriyorlar verdiler
Future Interrogative:
In Type I endings, the -mi comes after the tense-base except the third-person plural, when it
follows the -lar.
Mi forms a unit with the personal ending.
This is identical to the interrogative form of the verb ‘to be’.

Compare:
Present
veriyor muyum? yorgun muyum?
veriyor musun? yorgun musun?
veriyor mu? yorgun mu?
veriyor muyuz? yorgun muyuz?
veriyor musunuz? yorgun musunuz?
veriyorlar mı? yorgunlar mı?

Future
verecek miyim? evde miyim?
verecek misin? evde misin?
verecek mi? evde mi?
verecek miyiz? evde miyiz?
verecek misiniz? evde misiniz?
verecekler mi? evdeler mi?

The personal endings of the future belong to Type I. The interrogative is formed exactly as in the
present tense.
diye sormak sormak - to question, to ask
diye cevap vermek cevap vermek - to answer

Since the actual words of a speaker can be introduced only be the verb demek such forms as
‘Where are you going?’ he asked. ‘I am going home,’ he answered, are rendered:

‘Nereye gidiyorsun?’ diye sordu. ‘Eve gidiyorum,’ diye cevap verdim.

He questioned me saying, ‘Where are you going?’ I answered saying ‘I am going home.’

Diye here means saying, an adverbial form like güle güle or geçe and kala.
Diye is also used when an unspoken thought is introduced. However, it must be in the form
of a quotation, i.e., as if it were and actual quote.
Acaba ne yapacak diye düşünüyorum.
I am wondering (saying to myself) I wonder what he is going to do?
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 27

Grammar Notes - Lesson 31

Future Negative

The negative of the future tense is regular. The root will take -me or -ma to form the negative
stem.

To the negative stem is added the tense suffix. Since the negative stem ends in a vowel a (y) is
placed before the tense suffix.

verecek - vermeyecek
yıkanacak - yıkanmayacak
oturacak - oturmayacak

The stress, as in the present tense, falls heavily on the syllable before the me or ma.

vermeyecek - vermeyeceğim
yıkanmayacak - yıkanmayacağım
oturmayacak - oturmayacağım
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 28

Grammar Notes - Lesson 32

-dikten sonra
The adverbial form ‘after doing’ something is rendered by adding -dikten sonra to the
verb-stem.
Note: -dikten sonra will change according to the roles of vowel and consonant harmony.
gel - geldikten sonra - after coming
yat - yattıktan sonra - after going to bed
otur - oturduktan sonra - after sitting
görüş - görüştükten sonra - after seeing and conversing

The subject of the adverbial clause is that of the main verb when no separate subject is indicated.

However the subject of the adverbial clause may differ from the subject of the main verb, in which
case it must be indicated.
Ben geldikten sonra gitti.
He went after I came.

Ali gittikten sonra telefon ettim.

I phoned after Ali went.

The -dikten sonra never changes. The tense of the main verb determines the tense of the
adverbial clause.
Ben geldikten sonra gitsin.
Let him go after I come.

Ben geldikten sonra gitti.

He went after I came.

Ben geldikten sonra gidecek.

He’ll go after I come.

Note: Compare with gelmeden önce, Lesson 25, Grammar Analysis.

 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 29

Grammar Notes - Lesson 33

Telling time:

When we want to know what the time is, we ask the question:
Saat kaç? - What time is it?
If it is on the hour, the answer is:
Saat beş. - It is five o’clock.
Or simply:
Beş. - Five.
If it is half an hour past the hour the answer is:
Saat beş buçuk. - It is five thirty.
Or simply:
Beş buçuk. - Five thirty.
To indicate that it is now a certain number of minutes past the hour, we say:
Beşi on geçiyor. - Ten (minutes) after five.
Beşi çeyrek geçiyor. - A quarter after five.
From 1 to 29 we use geçiyor.

Note: When we say so many minutes past a certain hour, the number of the hours is always in the
accusative case.
To indicate that it is now a certain number of minutes to the hour we say:
Altıya sekiz var. - It is eight (minutes) to six.
Altıya çeyrek var. - It is a quarter to six.

From 31 to 59 we use “var”.

-e var

Note: When we say so many minutes to a certain hour, the number of hours is always in the dative.
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 30

1. When kadar follows a number it means about or approximately.

İki saat kadar yürüdüm - I walked for about two hours.
Yüz elli dolar kadar sarf ettim. - I spent about a hundred and fifty dollars.

2. When kadar follows a word in the dative case, it means as far as, until or up to. The word
preceding kadar represents the limit or boundary of the action.
Eve kadar yürüdüm. - I walked as far as the house.
İkiye kadar gelecek. - He will come by tow.

Note: Here two o’clock is the limit within which he is expected to come.
Üç güne kadar bir cevap göndereceğiz.
We shall send a reply within three days.

Kaça kadar? will therefore mean - Till what time?

Kaça kadar bekledin? - Until what time did you wait?

Doğru:
Doğru preceded by a noun, pronoun or adjective in the dative case means towards. It
indicates motion towards.
Okula doğru yürümeğe başladık. - We began to walk toward the school.
Beşe doğru kalktı, şapkasını aldı - Toward five he got up, took his hat and left
ve odadan çıktı. the room.

ya................ya

ya..........ya means either..........or

To mean this it must always be used in pairs.

Ya parayı versin ya evden çıksın -Let him either pay the money or get out of the house.
Ya o ya ben. -Either he or I.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 31

Grammar Notes - Lesson 34

A. Telling Time (adverb)

1. At (X) minutes past the hour is expressed by an adverbial form of the verb geçmek (to pass).
The number of hours is the direct object of the verb. (In the accusative).
At five minutes past eight is
Saat sekizi beş geçe - Five after eight.
or simply
Sekizi beş geçe - Five after eight.

2. At (X) minutes to the hour is expressed by the adverbial form of the verb kalmak (to
remain). The number of hours is in the dative case.

At five minutes to eight is

Saat sekize beş kala - Five minutes before eight.
or simply
Sekize beş kala - Five minutes before eight.

B. Distributive numerals

Distributive numerals expressing the idea, three each or four each etc., as in ‘he gave
them three apples each,’ are formed by adding the suffix -er or -ar to a number ending in a
consonant.

bir - birer
üç - üçer
dokuz - dokuzar
on - onar

When the number ends in a vowel the suffix -şer and -şar is added.
iki - ikişer
altı - altışar
yedi - yedişer
on iki - on ikişer

Askerlere bir şişe şarap verdim - I gave the soldiers a bottle of wine.
Askerlere birer şişe şarap verdim. - I gave the soldiers a bottle of wine
each.
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 32

C. (-lik)
By adding -lik to nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and adverbs we get a large group of words.
Three such groups will now be analyzed:

1. By adding -lik to nouns and adjectives we make abstract nouns denoting condition or quality.
uzun - long uzunluk - length
güzel - beautiful güzellik - beauty
işsiz - an unemployed person işsizlik - unemployment
anne - mother annelik - motherhood
ben - I benlik - identity, personality
bir - one birlik - unity, union

2. Abstract nouns denoting profession:

asker - soldier askerlik - military service
öğretmen - teacher öğretmenlik - teaching profession
dişçi - dentist dişçilik - dentistry
doktor - doctor doktorluk - the medical profession
bankacı - banker bankacılık - banking

3. Name of instruments showing the purpose for which it is intended.

tuz - salt
tuzluk - salt-shaker
göz - eye
gözlük - eye glasses
yağmur - rain
yağmurluk - raincoat
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 33

Grammar Notes - Lesson 35

A. Future

The negative and interrogative forms of the future tense are regular.
Negative
verecek vermeyecek
okuyacak okumayacak

Interrogative:
vereceğim verecek miyim?
vermeyeceğiz vermeyecek miyiz?

B. -ip
When an action not only precedes but leads into a second, it is usual to put the tense
and personal suffixes only on the root of the second verb and add to the root of the first verb the
suffix:
1. ip, ıp, up, üp, if the root ends in a consonant
2. yip, yıp, yup, yüp, if the root ends in a vowel.

1. ver - verip
al - alıp
dur - durup
gör - görüp

2. oku - okuyup
ara - arayıp
söyle - söyleyip

Kalkıp gittiler. - They got up and went.

Kalkıp gidelim. - Let’s get up and go.
Bunu okuyup anlamanız lâzım. - You must read and understand this.

In a phrase like gidip pencereyi açtı (he went and opened the window), the going not only took
place before opening the window but was related to it. He went with the intention of opening the
window. The first action was performed as a prelude to the second. This is the most common use
of the suffix -ip.

Note 1:
Even if both verbs are negative, the root of the first verb is left positive.
Onu gidip görmesin. - Let him not go and see him.

Note 2:
After the -ip suffix ve is never used. However, sometimes for emphasis de (or te in this
case) may follow -ip.
Niçin gelip te bana söylemedin? - Why didn’t you come and tell me?
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 34

Grammar Notes - Lesson 36

A. Ne . . . . . ne . . . . .
If we want to reject or deny both of two propositions or alternatives we use ne . . .ne . . .
They come before the words they modify.
ne sen ne ben - neither you nor I
ne bugün ne yarın - neither today nor tomorrow
Ne ben sordum ne o söyledi. - I neither asked nor did he say.

Note: 1: Sometimes for greater emphasis a de is placed after the second ne.
2: Usually the verb is omitted after the second group (if the verb is the same).

Ne bunu istedi ne onu. - He wanted neither this nor that.

instead of:
Ne bunu istedi ne onu istedi. - He wanted neither this nor did he want that.

B. Kadar
When kadar follows a noun in the nominative case it means as much as.

Ali o adam kadar okumuyor. - Ali does not read as much as that man

Bu öğrenciler eski öğrencileriniz - Do these students study as hard as your

kadar çalışıyorlar mı? old students?

Sizinki benimki kadar güzel değil. - Yours is not as nice as mine.

A pronoun followed by kadar is always in the genitive case, except the third person plural.
(Compare gibi, için, and ile. See Grammar Analysis Lesson 23.)

Benim kadar uyumadı. - He didn’t sleep as much as I.

Sizin kadar konuşmuyor. - He doesn’t talk as much as you.
But:
Onlar kadar zengin değilim. - I am not as rich as they are.

C. The future of ‘to be’:

For the infinitive of ‘to be’ we use olmak. (See Grammar Analysis for the future, Lesson
29)

present - askerim - I am a soldier.

past - askerdim - I was a soldier.
future - asker olacağım - I shall be a soldier.OR I am going to become a
soldier.
Note that in the present and past tenses the concepts of ‘being’ and ‘becoming’ are distinct.
Hastayım. - I am sick.
Hasta oluyorum. - I am becoming sick.
Hastaydım. - I was sick.
Hasta oldum. - I became sick.
But in the future the one verb olmak expresses both concepts.
Hasta olacağım. - I am going to be sick.
or I am going to become sick.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 35

Grammar Notes - Lesson 37

A. The possessive suffix with adjectives:

In phrases such as
şapkaların kırmızısı - the red one of the hats
çocukların büyüğü - the older one of the children

we see what ‘kırmızı’ refers to. But we can simply say ‘kırmızısı daha güzel’ without mentioning,
but still referring back to the hats, in which case it means simply ‘the red one is more beautiful.’
So an adjective with an izafet suffix comes to mean merely ‘the . . . one’ as in:
eskisi - the old one
birincisi - the first one
sarısı - the yellow one
With numerals
iki - ikisi
beş - bişi
the meaning is of course ‘two of them’ or ‘five of them’.

Bir may mean one or a. When bir means one, then biri means ‘one of them’ and may
refer to a previously mentioned class as in:
askerlerin biri - one of the soldiers

But when bir is the indefinite article a, then the meaning of biri is someone or a certain
person.
Kapıda biri var. - There is someone at the door.
Or:
padişahın biri - a certain sultan
askerin biri - a certain soldier
Note that in this case ‘padişah’ and ‘asker’ are in the singular.

C. Hem . . . hem . . .

This is used in a way very similar to ne . . .ne . . . The meaning is the exact opposite. It
indicates that the two propositions are both included in the statement.
Hem beni hem sizi çağırıyor. - He is calling both you and me.
Hem sizi seviyor hem beni. - She love both you and me.
Hem ziyaret hem ticaret - It is both pleasure and business.

Note: Sometimes for greater emphasis a de is placed after the second hem.
Hem bugün hem de yarın gideceğiz. - We’ll go both today and tomorrow.
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 36

Grammar Notes - Lesson 38

Optative:
Pencereyi açayım. - Let me open the window.
Pencereyi açayım mı? - Shall I open the window? Or may I open the window?

We use the subjunctive (optative) mode of the verb in order to express:

1. An activity or state that is desired.
2. An activity or state requiring the permission or acquiescence of another person.

To form this mode we add e or a when the stem ends in a consonant followed by yim or yım.
ver - vereyim aç - açayım
bil - bileyim dur - durayım
gör - göreyim çağır - çağırayım
sür - süreyim sor - sorayım

If the stem ends in a vowel we add ye or ya followed by yim or yım.

söyle - söleyeyim ara - arayayım
yürü - yürüyeyim tanı - tanıyayım
temizle - temizleyeyim uyu - uyuyayım
yıka - yıkayayım

Note: Owing to the fact that eyeyim, ayayım, ıyayım, etc., are clumsy to pronounce, the ye
or ya is usually dropped in conversation and we have:
söyleyim instead of söyleyeyim
temizleyim instead of temizleyeyim
yıkayım instead of yıkayayım
arayım instead of arayayım

Interrogative:
To form the interrogative the particle mi is added after the personal endings.
Vereyim. - Let me give.
Vereyim mi? - Shall I give?

Sorayım. - Let me ask.

Sorayım mı? - Shall I ask?
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 37

Grammar Notes - Lesson 39

Aorist Tense:
The aorist tense expresses habitual activity.
Ben her sabah iki fincan çay içerim. - I drink two cups of tea every morning.

Or statements of general validity. It is sometimes called the ‘unbounded’ tense, because it does
not refer to any particular time.
İki iki daha dört eder. - Two and two make four.
Çay severim. - I like tea.

This is how it is formed.

1. If the stem ends in a vowel, you simply add an r followed by the personal endings
-im, -sin, -iz, etc. as in the present and future tenses. (Type I endings. See Grammar Analysis,
Lesson 19).
de - der
ye - yer
ara - arar
söyle - söyler

yerim - söylerim
yersin - söylersin
yer - söyler
yeriz - söyleriz
yersiniz - söylersiniz
yerler - söylerler

2. If the stem ends in a consonant then:

(a) to stems of more than one syllable add ir, ır, ür, ur according to vowel
harmony.
beğen - beğenir kızart - kızartır
getir - getirir çalış - çalışır
götür - götürür okut - okutur

(b) to stems of one syllable only add er, ar

in - iner aç - açar
geç - geçer sor - sorar
sür - sürer *tut - tutar
dön - döner çık - çıkar

* tutmak: to hold, to catch

DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 38

Note: Exceptions. There are a few very common verb-stems of one syllable which form the aorist
by adding ır, ir, ur, ür. As they are very common they must be memorized. Although these are
exceptions to the rule given in (b) the suffixes still obey the rules of vowel harmony.

ır ir ur ür

al- alır bil- bilir ol- olur gör- görür

kal- kalır gel- gelir bul- bulur öl- ölür
san- sanır ver- verir dur- durur
var- varır vur- vurur

almak - to take
kalmak - to remain, to stay
sanmak - to think, to imagine
varmak - to reach
olmak - to be
bulmak - to find
durmak - to stand, to stop
vurmak - to strike
bilmek - to know
gelmek - to come
vermek - to give
görmek - to see
ölmek - to die
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 39

Grammar Notes - Lesson 40

Interrogative of the Aorist

The interrogative form is regular. The interrogative particle mi comes after the
tense-base as in the present and future tenses.
yapıyor muyum? yapıyor musunuz?
yapacak mıyım? yapacak mısınız?
yapar mıyım? yapar mısınız?

The interrogative form has two functions which should be kept distinct.
(1) It is a question about the habits of a person, i.e.,
Erken kalkar mısınız? - Do you get up early?
(2) It is always used when a request is made.
Masadaki kalemi verir misiniz?- Will you give me the pencil on the table?
Pencereyi açar mısınız? - Will you open the window?

Negative of Aorist:
The negative of the aorist is irregular. Instead of adding the tense suffix r or ir (ır,
ur, er, ar) to the negative stem, there is a negative tense suffix mez or maz added directly to the
stem.
In the first person singular and plural, z is omitted.
gitmem - I don’t go.
gitmezsin - You don’t go.
gitmez - He/she doesn’t go.
gitmeyiz - We don’t go.
gitmezsiniz - You don’t go.
gitmezler - They don’t go.

Note: The accent falls, not on the syllable before the negative me, but on the negative aorist suffix
mez. Except in the third person plural, where the accent is on ler.
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 40

Grammar Notes - Lesson 41

Participle:
A participle is an adjective verb. It describes or points out a living being or thing by what it
is doing, or (if the verb is passive) by what is being done to it.
Like an adjective it is placed before the noun it modifies.
Like a verb it may refer to present, past, or future time.
Like a verb it may have a direct or indirect object or an adverb.

Present Participle:
The present participle is formed by adding -en or -an to the verb-stem. If the verb-stem
ends in a vowel a y is placed before -en or -an (-yen, -yan).
otur - oturan yürü - yürüyen
ver - veren ara - arayan
bil - bilen söyle - söyleyen

1. bunu bilen talebeler - the students who know this

2. dün sizinle gelen çocuklar - the children who came with you yesterday
3. Orada oturan adam kim? - Who is the man sitting over there?
4. çok kahve içen insanlar - people who drink a lot of coffee

1. a. The present participle represents past, present, or habitual action. In the four
examples given above, the same form is translated as:
students who know - (a present condition)
children who came - (past action)
the man sitting - (present action state)
those who drink - (habitual action)

b. Like most adjectives, the present participle may be used as a noun. Instead of:
Bunları bilen gerek. - We need one (someone) who knows these.

c. Non-verbal adjectives come after the participles.

Ali’yle konuşan o uzun boylu subayı tanıyor musun?
-Do you know that tall officer who is talking with Ali?

Note:
bunu bilen iyi insanlar - good people who know this
Here iyi belongs to insanlar.

bunu iyi bilen insanlar - people who know this well

Here iyi belongs to bilen

We also use this form when we refer to a period of time past.

geçen yıl - last year (the past year)
geçen ay - last month
geçen hafta - last week

However, geçen gün does not mean yesterday but the other day. Yesterday is simply dün,
and tomorrow yarın.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 41

2. -meden
By adding -meden or -madan to a verb-stem we get an adverbial form meaning ‘without’.
görmeden - without seeing
gitmeden - without going
sormadan - without asking

In form and usage it is like -meden önce which means ‘before’. (See Grammar Analysis Lesson
25)
görmeden önce - before seeing
görmeden - without seeing

Onu görmeden gitti. - He went away without seeing him.

Onu görmeden önce sizi görecek.- He is going to see you before he sees him.
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 42

Grammar Notes - Lesson 42

-den beri

İki günden beri buradayım.

(I have been here for the past two days.)

Yarım saatten beri seni bekliyorum.

(I have been waiting for you for the past half hour.)

Üç günden beri onu görmedim.

(I have not seen him in three days/for the past three days.)

This form marks the beginning of an action, action-state, or condition which is still
continuing.

In the three examples given above ‘being here’, ‘waiting for you’, ‘not having seen him’,
began respectively two days ago, half an hour ago, and three days ago. They are still the fact at
present.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 43

Grammar Notes - Lesson 43

Future participle (See Grammar Analysis in Lesson 41 for participles in general).

The future participle is the future base, i.e., verb-stem plus future tense suffix gel + ecek (gelecek),
meaning ‘going to come’ or ‘about to come’. When we refer to a particular person or thing, the
future participle is usually followed by olan, (the present participle of the verb ‘to be’, meaning
‘who’ or ‘which is’). So we have:

Bunu yapacak olan adam - The man who is going to do this

We drop the ‘olan’ when we do not intend anyone in particular.

Bunu satacak adam lâzım. - We need a man to sell this.

We also use this form when we refer to a period of time to come.

gelecek hafta - the coming week, next week
gelecek ay - next month
gelecek sene - next year

In the above examples it is used more like an adjective.

DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 44

Grammar Notes - Lesson 44

Condition:
The ‘if’ clause in Turkish is rendered by a special suffix. To the aorist tense-base we add:

-sem (or) -sam - -sek (or) -sak

-sen (or) -san -seniz (or) -sanız
-se (or) -sa -lerse (or) -larsa

Sorarsa söylerim. - If he asks, I’ll tell him.

Hava açarsa gideriz. - If the weather clears, we’ll go.
Bana kitabı verirseniz çok memnun olurum.
- If you give me the book, I’ll be very happy.

For the conditions in the future, the aorist tense-base is the one most commonly used:
gelirsem - if I come
gelirsen - if you come
gelirse - if he comes
gelirsek - if we come
gelirseniz - if you come
gelirlerse - if they come

Onu görürsem söylerim.

(If I see him, I’ll tell him.)

Yağmur yağarsa bir taksi tutarız.

(If it rains we’ll take a taxi.)

The suffix (-sem, -sen, -se, -sek, -seniz, -lerse) can be added to any tense-base.

Note: (1) Sometimes the conditional clause is preceded by eğer which means if. It is not
necessary, but if eğer is used, the conditional form must always follow.
(2) If the condition is something we do not expect, but feel we ought to be prepared for
any eventuality, i.e., ‘in case he should’, ‘on the off chance that he might’, we prefer şayet. Like
eğer, it must be followed by the conditional form.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 45

Grammar Notes - Lesson 45

Abilitative:
To express ‘can’ or the ability to do something, we put -(y)e or -(y)a to the verb-stem
followed by bilmek.
konuş - konuşabilmek - to be able to speak
anla - anlayabilmek - to be able to understand
yap - yapabilmek - to be able to do
gör - görebilmek - to be able to see

For the various tenses, we conjugate exactly like bilmek:

yapabiliyor - he is able to do it
yapabildin - you were able to do it
yapabilirsiniz - you can do it
yapabilecekler - they are going to be able to do it
yapabilen - one who is able to do it

The interrogative is regular.

Yapabiliyor mu? - Is he able to do it?
Yapabildin mi? - Were you able to do it?
Yapabilir misiniz? - Can you do it?
Yapabilecekler mi? - Are they going to be able to do it?
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 46

Grammar Notes - Lesson 46

Conditional of the verb ‘to be’

The conditional is most commonly met with as a suffix (y)se or (y)sa added directly to the noun,
adjective or pronoun. (See Grammar Analysis, Lesson 44).)
askerse - if he is a soldier
hastaysan - if you are sick
oysa - if it is he
Ali’yse - if it is Ali

It can also be added after the possessive suffix or a case ending.

oradaysalar - if they are there
onlardansa - if it is from them
talebesiyse - if he is his student
sizinse - if it is yours

Pencereler kapalıysa lütfen açınız. - If the windows are closed, please open them.
Orada oturan talebesiyse gidip - If the person sitting there is his student,
konuşalım. let’s go and talk to him.

Hastaysan bir doktor çağırayım. - Let me send for a doctor if you are sick.
Eğer oysa mesele yok. - If it is he there is no problem.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 47

Grammar Notes - Lesson 47

Negative (Abilitative):

For the negative form of the abilitative after the (y)e or (y)a the negative suffix me or ma is added
instead of bilmek. (See Grammar Analysis of Lesson 45 for abilitative.)

konuş - konuşamamak - to be unable to talk

anla - anlayamamak - to be unable to understand
yap - yapamamak - to be unable to do
gör - görememek - to be unable to see

yapamıyor - he is unable to do it
yapamadın - you were unable to do it
yapamazsınız - you cannot do it
yapamayacaklar - they are not going to be able to do it
yapamayan - one who is incapable of doing it

The interrogative is regular:

Yapamıyor mu? - Isn’t he able to do it?
Yapamadın mı? - Weren’t you able to do it?
Yapamaz mısınız? - Can’t you do it?
Yapamayacaklar mı? - Won’t they be able to do it?

Note: The negative of the abilitative form should be contrasted with the negative of the simple
form.
al - a-la
ver - ve-re
konuş - ko-nu-şa
bul - bu-la

almıyor - alamıyor
vermedi - veremedi
konuşmadım - konuşamadım
bulmayacak - bulamayacak

Only an e or an a is added after the root, with a shift of stress. When the stem ends in a vowel, ye
or ya is added.
aramadı - arayamadı
temizlemeyecek - temizleyemiyecek

This form should be practiced by contrasting the negative of the simple form with the negative of
the abilitative, and dwelling on the difference in the rhythmic pattern.
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 48

Grammar Notes - Lesson 48

-diği zaman

Ne zaman...
1. Ona bir mektup verdim?
2. Onu gördünüz?
3. Ona bir soru soracağız?

a) The answer to 1 and 2 may be: dün, bu sabah, saat onda, geçen yıl.
The answer to 3 may be: saat onda, bu akşam, yarın, gelecek hafta
b) But the answer can also be when something else has happened, when another event has
taken place.

When the answer belongs to group (B) we add -dığı zaman, -diğim zaman, etc.
directly to the stem of the verb indicating the event.

So to the questions: Ne zaman ona bir mektup verdiniz?

We may answer: a) dün, bu sabah, saat onda
Or: b) odaya girdiği zaman (when he entered the room).

Ona ne zaman gördünüz?

Onu odaya girdiğim zaman gördüm. (I saw him when I entered the room.)

Ona ne zaman bir soru soracağız?

We may answer: a) yarın, saat onda, bu akşam, gelecek hafta
or: b) odaya girdiği zaman (when he has entered the room)

Note: The act of entering a room which may be in the distant past, the immediate past or in the
future has taken place.

The tense of the verb in the main clause determines the time for the whole event, i.e., it may
be in the past, habitual or future

When did you give him a letter?

When he entered the room.

When are you going to give him the letter?

When he has entered the room (or when he enters the room sometime in the future.)
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 49

Grammar Notes - Lesson 49

Conditional (past tense) -diyse

We may conceive of events and situations as conditions for some other event.
If we want to indicate that an event in the past is a necessary condition for a present
decision or proposal and we don’t know if that condition has been fulfilled we place-(y)sem, -
(y)sen, -(y)se, -(y)sek, -(y)seniz, -(y)seler or more commonly -lerse after the past tense-base.

Example:
If I want to show that you can leave on condition that you have finished your lesson (I don’t
know if you have or not), I say:
Dersini bitirdiysen gidebilirsin. - You can leave if you have finished your
lesson.

For more examples refer to lesson 49, Section 1.

Note: There is an alternative form for the past conditional. The suffix -se is added to the past
definite: geldim - geldimse.
verdimse verdikse
verdinse verdinizse
verdiyse verdilerse

This form is as frequently used as the other.

DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 50

Grammar Notes - Lesson 50

Past: A. Kalem nerede?
B. Hangi kalem?
A. (Sana dün bir kalem verdim. O kalem.)
Sana dün verdiğim kalem.

A. Evi satın alacağım.

B. Hangi ev?
A. (Dün bir ev gördük. O evi.)
Dün gördüğümüz evi.

Present: A. Kitap benim.

B. Hangi kitap?
A. (Ali şimdi bir kitap okuyor. O kitap.)
Ali’nin şimdi okuduğu kitap.

Habitual: A. Tercümeleri bana göstersin.

B. Hangi tercümeleri?
A. (Her akşam bir tercüme yapar. O tercümeleri.)
Her akşam yaptığı tercümeleri.

If the best way of identifying something, a pencil, for example, is the fact that it is the
pencil that I (you, he, etc.) gave, we use the past participle verdik followed by the appropriate
possessive suffix.
1. If it is the pencil that I gave, we say:
Benim verdiğim kalem.
We can drop benim and simply say: Verdiğim kalem.

2. If it is the pencil that you gave we say:

Senin verdiğin kalem. Or Verdiğin kalem.

3. If it is the pencil he gave, we say:

Onun verdiği kalem. Or Verdiği kalem.

Note 1: The -dik past participle is used for present, past and habitual. Whether it is the
man you say or are now seeing or see every day the form is the same. Usually the context makes
this clear. However, for further clarity, we can add dün, bir, az, önce, bir yıl önce, etc., to indicate
that you are speaking of a past event. With the present there is always the situational context or
some word like bu, o, etc. And for the habitual her sabah, her gün, etc.

1. Dün gördüğümüz öğrenci yeni öğrencilerden biri.

(The student we saw is one of the new students.)

2. Yazdığı mektubu bitirdikten sonra gelsin beni görsün.

(After he finishes the letter he is writing, let him come and see me.)

3. Her Cuma verdiğimiz testleri nasıl buluyorsunuz?

(How do you find the exams we give every Friday?)
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 51

Note 2:
In the following examples (1) and (2), kalem and pencere are direct objects,
although one is in the nominative and the other in the accusative case.

In examples (3), (4), and (5), iskemle, oda, and er are indirect objects. İskemlede
(locative), odaya (dative), evden (ablative). Bayanla is a prepositional phrase. But all of these
have the same construction.

1. Ona bir kalem verdim. O kalem çok kısa.

Ona verdiğim kalem çok kısa.

2. Pencereyi açtım. O pencere çok büyük.

Açtığım pencere çok büyük.

3. İskemlede oturuyorum. O iskemle rahat değil.

Oturduğum iskemle rahat değil.

4. Odaya girdim. O oda küçük.

Girdiğim oda küçük.

5. Evden çıktık. O ev büyük değil.

Çıktığımız ev büyük değil.

6. Bir bayanla konuşuyor. O bayan çok güzel.

Konuştuğu bayan çok güzel.
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 52

Grammar Notes - Lesson 51

A. Evi görmek ister misin?

B. Hangi evi?
A. Bir ev satın alacağım. O evi.
Satın alacağım evi.

A. Mektupta senden bahsedeyim mi?

B. Hangi mektupta?
A. Anneme bir mektup yazacağım. O mektupta.
Anneme yazacağım mektupta.

If we want to identify an object by what someone is going to do to it, or with it, we

use the future participle followed by a possessive suffix.

The possessive suffix indicates the subject of the verb. (See Lesson 50.)

For example, if I am talking about a party which I am going to give then I say:
Vereceğim parti.
If I am talking about a party Ali is going to give, I say:
‘Ali’nin vereceği parti,’ and so on.
If I am talking about a party you are going to give, I say:
Vereceğiniz parti.

Note: See Note II, Grammar Analysis, Lesson 50, for examples about direct and
indirect objects.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 53

Grammar Notes - Lesson 52

-miş (Presumptive-past)

I saw it. I did not see it.

Dün geldi. Dün gelmiş.

Bu sabah gittiler. Bu sabah gitmişler.
Geçen Pazar geldiniz. Geçen Pazar gelmişsiniz.
Bunu siz yazdınız. Bunu siz yazmışsınız.
Kahvesini bitirdi. Kahvesini bitirmiş.
Otomobili yıkadı. Otomobili yıkamış.
Çocuklar okuldan döndüler. Çocuklar okuldan dönmüşler.

In Turkish there are two past tenses.

1. The -di past:
This is an activity, state or process which we have seen with our own eyes, or
something universally accepted.
2. The -miş past:
This is something we have not seen. It is inferred or hearsay. The tense sign for
this second hearsay past -miş is followed by personal endings, Type I.
-im, -sin, -iz, -siniz, -ler

vermişim (they say that, I gave

vermişsin it seems, You gave
vermiş apparently, He gave
vermişiz I hear that We gave
vermişsiniz It is rumored You gave
vermişler that) They gave

Note: The idea that this fact is inferred or hearsay and not something we ourselves have witnessed,
is expressed explicitly in English. It comes out into the open. We have to state that it is something
we have heard or inferred.
In Turkish all this is implied. So the central idea, that of inferred or witnessed fact, is what
remains vivid and uppermost in our minds.
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 54

Grammar Notes - Lesson 53

-iyordu
Yapıyordum - I was doing it.
The suffix iyor indicates that an action is in progress. By itself it indicates no tense.

If we want to indicate that an action is going on now, we add the present tense of the verb
‘to be’, um:
yapıyorum - I am now doing it.
yazıyorum - I am now writing.
içiyorum - I am now drinking.

To show that some action was going on in the past we add the past tense of the verb “to be”
or the suffix -dum after -iyor suffix.

yapıyordum - I was doing it (in the past).

yazıyordunuz - You were writing (in the past).
içiyordu - He was drinking (in the past).

The interrogative is the regular interrogative of the verb to be in the past.

miydim
yapıyor muydum?
yazıyor muydunuz?
içiyor muydu?

Note: In the third person plural, there is a variant form of -dular, -lardı. Both forms are common.

We can say gidiyordular or gidiyorlardı. This is possible only in the third person plural.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 55

Grammar Notes - Lesson 54

Time Relations.
An event B can occur either before, during, after, or at the time that another event A
was completed.
A is the fixed point from which B is measured.
If we were to make a diagram of time, it would be a straight line moving in one direction.

On this we shall mark a point A representing an event:

A
Time 
But A must have some duration to be perceived at all. So in reality A would be indicated in this way:
A

1. Let us now mark an event B1 as occurring before A occurs.

A

B1
This relationship is indicated by adding -meden önce (OR –meden evvel) directly to the verb root
representing event A.
If A represents ‘reading a letter’ (mektubu okumak), then B1 occurred ‘before reading the
letter’ (mektubu okumadan önce).

2. Now let us mark event B2 as occurring during the time A is taking place but before it is
completed: A

B2

This relationship is indicated by adding -ken to the aorist verb-base representing event A.
Then B2 occurred ‘while reading the letter’ (mektubu okurken).

3. Now let us mark event B3 as occurring when A has taken place or is completed.

B3
This relationship is indicated by adding -diği zaman to the verb-root.
(see Lesson 48 for changes in -diği).
B3 occurred : ‘when he read the letter’ (mektubu okuduğu zaman)

4. Now let us mark event B4 as occurring after event A has occurred.

B4
This relationship is indicated by adding -dikten sonra directly to the verb-root.
B4 occurred : ‘after reading the letter’ (mektubu okuduktan sonra)

Note: The verb representing events B1, B2, B3, B4 can be in any tense any person or any mood, the
sequence, relative to B will be the same, therefore there will be no change in the suffixes
representing this relationship.
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 56

-ken
As was shown in paragraph 2 in the above analysis, -ken added to a verb root represents the
event during which another event took place, is taking or will take place.
-ken never changes and is never accented.

Example:
Arkadaşımı gördüm. (B)
I saw my friend.

Ne zaman?
When?

Okula gelirken. (A)

(While coming to school)

The main action (B) may be in any tense or mode; (A) will always be the same:

(A) (B)
1. Okula gelirken gördüm.
2. Okula gelirken görmüş.
3. Okula gelirken görsün.
4. Okula gelirken görecek
5. Okula gelirken görürse
6. Okula gelirken göremez.
7. Okula gelirken görebilir miyim?

(B) (B)

 
onu gördüm I saw him
onu görmüş He saw him
onu görsün Let him see him
(A) onu görecek He is going to see him
dönerken onu görürse If he sees him
onu göremez He cannot see him
onu görebilir miyim? Can I see him?
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 57

Grammar Notes - Lesson 55

-ken

We saw in lesson 54 that in order to show that an event A took place while another event B
was going on but not completed, we place -ken after the aorist verb-base indicating B.

B. <─── Okula gidiyorum. ───> Okula giderken Ahmed’e rastladım.

A. Ahmed’e rastladım.

While on my way to school (I hadn’t arrived yet), I met Ahmet.

But an event can also occur during the time a certain condition occurs.

If we want to indicate this face, we place the suffix -ken after the adjective or noun denoting this
condition or state.

B. <──── During the time I was a child (childhood) ───>

A. Something was learned

Bunu çocukken öğrendim: I learned this when I was a child.

The noun may have various endings.

Çocukken - When I was a child

Evdeyken - When at home
Evinizdeyken - When at your home
Öğretmenimken - While (you, he, she etc.) was my teacher

-ken does not indicate person or time.

Note: When the word to which -ken is attached ends in a vowel, a (y) is placed before -ken.
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 58

yapardım

The aorist suffix indicates habit or something done at regular intervals. By itself it does not
indicate whether it is present or past habit. The personal suffix shows that. (See Grammar Analysis
Lesson 53)

Present Habit Past Habit

Erken yatar. He goes to bed early. Erken yatardı: He was in the habit of
going to bed early.
İçerim I drink. İçerdim: I was in the habit of
drinking. I used to
drink.

Note: When used in the past the implication is that this is no longer a habit: it used to be a habit,
but is not a habit any more.
Ben günde dört beş fincan kahve içerdim. (artık şimdi içmiyorum).
Ben her akşam ondan evvel yatardım. (artık ondan evvel yatmıyorum).
Okuldayken her gün tenis oynardım. (artık her gün tenis oynamıyorum.

imdi │ Eskiden
│
Yüzmüyorum │ Çocukken yüzerdim
Yemek pişiriyorum. │ Yemek pişirmezdim.
Gömleklerimi kendim yıkıyorum. │ Gömlekleri kendim yıkanmazdım.
Bahçede çalışmayı seviyorum. │ Bahçede çalışmayı sevmezdim.
İzmir’e şimdi çok az gidiyorum. │ İzmir’e sık sık giderdim.
Az süt içiyorum. │ Çok süt içerdim.
Burada tiyatroya çok gitmiyorum. │ İstanbul’dayken tiyatroya çok giderdim.
imdi sanat müziğinden çok │ Eskiden sanat müziğinden hiç
hoşlanmazdım. hoşlanıyorum. │

Note: The interrogative is the regular interrogative of the verb to be in the past: -miydi?
Erken kalkar miydiniz? - Did you used to get up early?
Were you in the habit of getting up early?
İçer miydi? - Was he in the habit of drinking?
Did he drink? (formerly)
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 59

Grammar Notes - Lesson 56

------ den beri (See lesson 42)

If we want to specify a period of time beginning sometime in the past and continuing up
to the present, we place -den beri after whatever marks the beginning of that period.

During this period the following happened or is happening.

Beginning │ The Period │ (This is the situation)

│ │
Cuma │ Cumadan beri│ Cumadan beri bir yere gitmedim.
Sabah │ Sabahtan beri │ Sabahtan beri mektup yazıyor.
Bir ay │ Bir aydan beri│ Bir aydan beri buradayım.
│ │

But if the period begins from the time something has happened then we add ---diğimden
beri, -diğinizden beri, -diğimizden beri, -diğinden beri, etc., (depending upon who it was) to the
verb root. (See Grammar Analysis Lesson 48 and 50).

Beginning with the Up to now During this period the following has happened,
time that this happened│ │ or is happening (this is the situation)
│ │
Geldim. │ geldiğimden beri │ Geldiğimden beri kimseyi görmedim.
Kalktı. │ kalktığından beri │ Kalktığından beri telefonda.
Evinizi sattınız. │ evinizi sattığınız- │ Evinizi sattığınızdan beri bir yere
│ dan beri │ gitmek istemiyorsunuz.
Mektubu aldı. │ mektubu aldığın- │ Mektubu aldığından beri pek
memnun. │ dan beri │
│ │
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 60

Grammar Notes - Lesson 57

1. -miş (imiş)
We saw in lesson 52 that the suffix -miş added directly to the verb-stem was used to
indicate a past event which we have not witnessed. It is an event of which we have no personal
knowledge. Used this way it always refers to a past event.
a) When added to a noun, pronoun, or adjective -miş is not a suffix showing the
character of the action, but the non-witnessed form of the verb to be. Used in this
way -miş is either present or past.

Ahmet askermiş. - Ahmet is a soldier.

Ahmet was a soldier.

Orada değilmiş. - He isn’t there.

He wasn’t there.

b) When -miş (imiş) is added to the tense-base, it indicates that the person making the
statement has no personal knowledge of the fact. This also refers either to present
or past.

gidiyor - he is going
(personal knowledge)

gidiyormuş - he is going
(no personal knowledge) he was going

gidecek - he is going to leave

(personal knowledge) he is going to leave

gidecekmiş - he was going to leave

(no personal knowledge)

gider - he goes
(personal knowledge)

gidermiş - he goes
(no personal knowledge) he used to go

Example:

Siz her sabah beşte kalkkarmışsınız. -You get up at five every morning. (I hear)
-You used to get up at five every morning. (I hear)
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 61

Note: -miş in gitmiş is never written separately.

In askermiş, evdeymiş, gidiyormuş, gidecekmiş etc., -miş may be written separately,
though usually it is not. -miş (the suffix form of imiş) is the non-witnessed form of the verb
to be.

When imiş is joined to the word preceding it, the first i is dropped and the vowel in -miş
agrees in harmony with the last vowel in the word to which it is joined. When the word
ends in a vowel, then a y is added before -miş. This is exactly what happens with -idi.

hasta idi - hasta imiş

hasaydı - hastaymış

öğretmen idiniz - öğretmen imişsiniz

öğretmendiniz - öğretmenmişsiniz

gider idim - gider imişim

giderdim - gidermişim

Further examples of the use of imiş

I was (am) a witness to the fact. I have no personal knowledge of the fact.
I know. I have heard or I hear. (surmise, etc.)

öğretmen - öğretmenmiş
evde - evdeymiş
oradaydı - oradaymiş
talebesiniz - talebeymişsiniz
uyuyor - uyuyormuş
içiyorlar - içiyorlarmış
çok geç yatar - çok geç yatarmış
ben de gideceğim - ben de gidecekmişim
dün beşte mektup yazıyordu - dün beşte mektup yazıyormuş
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 62

2. -erek
When a verb-stem has the suffix -erek, it indicates that the action:
A) occurs at the same time as the main action.
B) occurs before and leads up to the main action. This use of the -erek form is like the
-ip form.
C) conditions or indicates the manner of the main action. It is the chief instrument in
accomplishing the main action.

The -erek form, in itself, does not indicate tense or person. The main verb indicates this.

Okula yürüyerek geliriz.

Okula yürüyerek gelmişler.
Okula yürüyerek geliniz.
Okula yürüyerek gelecek.
Okula yürüyerek gelirsem

A y is placed before -erek or -arak when the verb-stem ends in a vowel. This suffix is added
directly to the verb-stem.
koş - koşarak
yürü - yürüyerek

3. -mişti
This form is added to the verb-stem when we want to stress the time relation of two
actions or states, both of which are in the past.
It represents a first action as completed before the second action, also in the past.
In everyday language, the past is often used instead of the past perfect unless we
want to stress the time relation, or when the use of the simple past might mislead.

Example: Ben o filmi görmüştüm. - I had seen this move.

This indicates that this same movie had been shown once before and that you had seen it
then.
Examples: Ben geldiğim zaman gitmiştin. - When I came, you had (already) gone.

Note: Here we cannot use ‘gitti’ for then it would mean ‘you went away when I came’; i.e., your
going away took place at the time of, or immediately following my arrival.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 63

Grammar Notes - Lesson 58

The suffixes -di, -miş, -iyor, -ecek, -er indicate the character or type of the action.
With the exception of the –di, suffix they do not by themselves indicate any time.

1. -di: Indicates that an action has taken place, is completed. It places the event or
condition unequivocally in the past (Witnessed. Personal knowledge).
Example:
Dün geldi. - He came yesterday. (I saw him come.)

2. -miş: Indicates that an action has been completed. It does not indicate when this was or
will be completed. It also is the suffix indicating that the action is not witnessed,
that it is not personal knowledge.
Example:
Dün gelmiş. - He came yesterday. (I was not there. This is not
personal knowledge, I heard, I hear, etc.)

3. -iyor: Indicates
a) That an action is going on, that it is in progress. This is the suffix of duration.
Example:
Çay içiyor. - He is (now) drinking tea.

b) Repeated habitual action for the time being or for a limited time in the past.
Example:
imdi beşte kalkıyoruz.- We are now (for the time being) getting up at
five. And by implication it means we didn’t
before and may not later, but we are for the
present.
c) A future event. But in order to have this meaning, a word which places the action
definitely in the future such as ‘yarın’ (tomorrow), ‘bu akşam’ (this evening) and
‘gelecek hafta’ (next week) must be used. When used in the future sense it indicates
a certainty or a pre-arrangement.
Example:
Vapur beşte kalkıyor. - The boat leaves (is leaving, is going to leave)
at five.

4. -er Indicates that an action

a) Is a general truth.
Example: İki kere iki dört eder. -Two times two make four.
b) Is habitual or customary.
Example: Kahvesine şeker ve süt koymaz. -He does not put cream or sugar in his
coffee.
c) Is iterative.
Example: Daima aynı şeyi tekrar eder. -He always repeats the same thing.
d) Is characteristic.
Example: Çok iyi piyano çalar -He plays the piano very well.
e) Shows volition or willingness.
Example: Acaba gelir mi? -I wonder if he will (is willing to)
come.
Giderim. -I’ll go. (I’m willing to go).
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 64

5. -ecek:
Indicates that an action is to come, is expected or planned.
These characteristics hold true whether we are dealing with the present or whether
we imagine ourselves at some point in the past or the future.
The time of an action or tense of a verb is indicated by the personal ending -im, -
dim, imişim, or the auxiliary olacağım.

a) -im
When we say askerim, we state a fact that is true now. The ending -im indicates this.

b) -dim
When we say askerdim, we state a fact that was true in the past and by implication is
not true now. The ending -dim indicates this.

c) olacağım
When we say asker olacağım, we state a fact that will be true sometime in the future,
and again by implication is not true now.

d) -miş
When we askermiş, we state a fact now or in the past of which we have no personal
knowledge.

Examples:
When we use the suffix –iyor, we indicate an action in progress. But this does not indicate
whether it is a present condition or a past condition. -iyor by itself does not give us sufficient
information. Only the personal ending indicates this.

İçiyorum - I am now drinking.

İçiyordum - I was drinking.
İçiyormuş - He is or was drinking. (This is not personal
knowledge)

The -er suffix indicates a habitual action. But we do not know whether it is a present or
past habit. The personal ending indicates this.

içerim - present habit

içerdim - past habit
içermiş - present or past habit (not personal knowledge)
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 65

-ecekti (-ecek + -ti)

This indicates that plans for some future action were made sometime in the past. This
future action, in reference to the present, may actually be in the (1) past or in the (2) future

Example:
For (1) Geçen Cuma gidecekti. - He was to go last Friday.
For (2) Gelecek Cuma gidecekti - He was to go this coming Friday.

As can be seen from the examples above, there is a strong implication that something
prevented, or is likely to prevent these plans from materializing. This form is sometimes used
when there is some uncertainty as to the fulfilment of an event either in the past or future.

Bu sabah telefon edecekti. - He was to phone this morning.

Mektubu yarın yazacaktım. - I was going to write the letter tomorrow.

Time and Tense

If we consider the notion or nature of time as an experience apart from language, we will see that it
is divided into two main parts, the past and future. Between these two lies the present - the now.
The present may be conceived of as a boundary of some duration dividing the past from the future.

We are quite clear about the past and future: but to determine what is present is more
difficult. What we call the present is determined more by the unity and character of the action than
by its duration.

The following personal suffixes -im, -dim, (idim), -mişim (imişim) and the future form of
the verb ‘to be’ olacağım are used to indicate these time distinctions. They are used with nouns,
pronouns, adjectives and adverbs as well as verbal forms showing aspect, character or mood.
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 66

Grammar Notes - Lesson 59

1. -eceği zaman
We saw in Lesson 48 that in answer to ‘Ne zaman?’ we can either indicate the hour, day,
month or year the event occurred, or another event which occurred at the same time.
If we determine the ‘when’ by some other event, we add -diği zaman directly to the stem of
the verb indicating that event.

Ders bittiği zaman eve gittik.

Ders bittiği zaman eve gideriz.
Ders bittiği zaman eve gideceğiz.

To the question, ‘Ne zaman eve gittiniz? gidersiniz? or gideceksiniz?’ the answer is ‘Ders
bittiği zaman.’ In the three examples above the fact is that the lesson was over when these other
things took place.
If we want to indicate that something occurred before the lesson was over or just as it was
about to end we use -eceği zaman: which we add to the stem of the verb bit- in this case. If the
bell rang as the lesson was about to end we say, ‘Ders tam biteceği zaman zil çaldı.’
Or we can put it in the form of a prediction and say ‘You’ll see, the bell will ring just as the
lesson is about to end.’
Göreceksin, ders tam biteceği zaman zil çalacak.
Or it might be something that happens quite frequently then we say:
Ekseriya, ders tam biteceği zaman zil çalar.
But in every one of the examples given above, the bell rings before the lesson is over. The
lesson is about to end when the bell rings.

2. -miş olan (-miş)

In Lesson 41 and 43 we saw that in order to identify or describe a person or object by what
he, she or it did, does, or is doing we use the suffix -(y)en added directly to the stem of the verb
indicating the action, and to identify a person or object with what he, or it, is going to do by the
suffix -ecek or -ecek olan added to the verb-stem.
The verb-stem + -(y)en is the present participle. The verb-stem + -(y)ecek is the future
participle.
To identify or describe a person who has or had done something in the past, we use -miş or
-miş olan added to the verb-stem indicating that action.

Bu filmi görmüş olanlar - Those who have seen this

ellerini kaldırsınlar. movie raise their hands.

The meaning here is that the movie (now being shown or about to be shown) was shown
once before, and that those who saw it then should raise their hands.
The verb-stem + -miş is the perfect participle. It denotes result of an action in the past. It
corresponds to the -mişti form of the verb.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 67

Usually instead of the bare participle -miş we use the -miş olan.
bunu okumuş kimseler
(or)
bunu okumuş olan kimseler

These are practically identical in meaning.

gidecek talebeler
Compare:
gidecek olan talebeler

3. Yavaş yavaş
In Turkish, adjectives can be used as adverbs.
iyi çocuk - a good child
İyi yazıyor. - He writes well.

güzel çiçek - a beautiful flower

Güzel kokuyor. - It smells beautiful.

ağır kutu - a heavy box

Ağır yürüyelim. - Let’s walk slowly.

When an adverb is doubled, there is an intensification in the meaning.

Erken yola çıktık. - We started our journey early.

Erken erken yola çıktık. - We started our journey quite early.
Çabuk yürüyelim. - Let’s walk quickly.
Çabuk çabuk yürüyorlardı. - They were walking very quickly.
Yavaş yavaş konuşunuz. - Speak very slowly.

4. Araya araya
Sometimes this doubling (yürüye yürüye, koşa koşa), especially when derived from
verbs, is not an intensification but gives an idea of ‘all the way’ or a manner that seems to be
present all during the main activity.
İte ite açtım. - I pushed and pushed it open.
Yürüye yürüye gittik. - We walked all the way.
Koşa koşa geldi. - He came running.
Vura vura kırdı. - He broke it after repeated blows.
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 68

Grammar Notes - Lesson 60

-iyorsa
We saw in lesson 44 that the condition upon which the principal action hinges is indicated
by adding -sem (-sen, -se, etc.) to the word indicating the condition.
This condition may be:
1. An event still in the future, but the occurrence of which is problematic. We
use the aorist base + -se  gider + -se.

2. A state, condition, location etc. concerning which we are in the dark, we use
the noun, adjective, adverb etc. with the suffix -se.
öğretmense evdeyse hastaysa

For present activity concerning which we have no definite knowledge, we use the
progressive base + -se.
uyuyor + -sa - if he is sleeping

Çocuklar uyuyorsa - You may go if the children are

gidebilirsin. sleeping.

This means that you may go on condition the children are sleeping. We don’t know
whether they are sleeping or not, but if they are, then you may go.
Of course the verb can be in the negative as well.

Bir şey yapmıyorsa, gelsin - If he is not doing anything, let him

gelsin beni görsün. come and see me.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 69

Grammar Notes - Lesson 61

1. -eli
This form is very similar to -den beri (see Lesson 56)
To specify a period of time beginning with some action in the past and continuing up to
the present, we place -eli after the verb-stem indicating that action.

Buraya geleli hiç nezle olmadım. - I haven’t had a cold since I came here.

Evi satalı üç defa apartman değiştirdim. - Since I sold the house, I have changed
apartments three times.

The -eli suffix can only be used with a verb-stem. This is one of the points in which it
differs from the -den beri form.
The other important difference is that the -eli form is used when the whole period is
measured, and not the activity during that period.

Ali işini bırakalı üç ay oluyor. - It is three months now since Ali quit his
job.

-eli marks the beginning of a period. It does not indicate person or take personal endings.
If the subject of the verb with -eli is other than the subject of the main clause, it should be indicated
by the appropriate noun or pronoun.

Sen gideli hiç bir şeyde zevk kalmadı. - Since you have gone there is no joy left
in anything.

A second characteristic of this form is that it can be used with a negative verb.

Ondan mektup almayalı kaç ay oluyor? - How long has it been since you
last heard from him?
2. -diği için
Beğenmediğim için satın almadım. - I didn’t buy it because I didn’t like it.

The subordinate clause with -diğim için contains the cause or reason, the principal
proposition the result or consequence.
In construction, it is similar to the forms -diğim zaman (Lesson 48) and -diğim şey (Lesson
50).
This form is best understood when contrasted with -mek için (Lesson 22).
Compare
1. Erken kalkmak için dokuzda yattım. - In order to get up early I went to bed at nine.
2. Erken kaltığım için dokuzda yattım. - Because I got up early I went to bed at nine.

In both 1 and 2, I state the fact that I went to bed at nine.

In sentence 1, I had a purpose in going to bed at nine. In sentence 2, my going to bed at
nine was the result of my getting up early.
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 70

Grammar Notes - Lesson 62

Passive:
1. Why do we use the passive?
2. Does the passive have a distinct form?
We must distinguish the purpose of the passive (syntactic category).
Let us take the first question.
Why do we use the passive? We use the passive when we do not want to mention, do not
know or are not concerned with or interested in the active agent.
Suppose we are concerned about a letter. Now we know that somebody wrote that letter. If
we are interested in that somebody we are likely to ask:
Who wrote the letter?
Did so and so write the letter?
When did he write the letter?
Where, why or how did he write the letter?

In answer to all of these, we use the active form of the verb in Turkish. If however, we are
interested mainly in the letter, (regardless of who wrote it) we ask:
When was the letter written?
Where, why or to whom was the letter written?

Of course, we can say (both in English and Turkish) ‘By whom was the letter written?’ But
that is simply an extension of the passive form; it not really necessary except in very subtle
distinctions of tone, color and emphasis. It is much more direct and simple to say, ‘who wrote the
letter?’
The answer to the second question: Does the passive have a distinct form? The answer is
yes. Always.
This is not true in English. If we take the two sentences
He sells the book.
The book sells well.
the verb is unchanged. But the first sentence has an active sense, the second a passive one.
This does not happen in Turkish.

The passive form.

Rule: To make a verb passive we add (1) -il, (2) -in, or (3) -n, to the root.

(1) If the root ends in any consonant other than l we add il (-ıl, -ül, -ul)
Examples: vermek - verilmek görmek - görülmek
yapmak - yapılmak içmek - içilmek

(2) If the roots end with the letter l we add -in (-ın, -ün, -un).
Examples: almak - akınmak bilmek - bilinmek
bulmak - bulunmak silmek - silinmek
gülmek - gülünmek

(3) If the root ends in a vowel we add -n.

Examples: yemek - yenmek korumak - korunmak
aramak - aranmak söylemek - söylenmek
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 71

Note:
Since this form with the n or in is identical to the reflexive form, (see note below)
sometimes an -il is added after -in or -n to avoid confusion. Söylenmek for example, can mean to
mutter to oneself. So if there is any chance of confusion we add an -il and make söylenilmek,
which is unmistakably passive.
To form the negative, we add the negative suffix -me or -ma after the -il.
‘Böyle şeyler söylenilmez.’ Such things are not said. Of course, ‘Böyle şeyler
söylenmez’is equally clear.
Kapılar altı buçuktan sonra açılıyor. - The doors are being opened after 6:30.

Any suffix indicating character, tense or mood may be added after the -il:

yapılıyor
yapılacaktı
yapılmıştı
yapılırdı
yapıldı mı?

Note on Reflexive:

How formed:
The reflexive is formed by adding -n to words ending in a vowel and -in, -ın, -ün, -un, to
words ending in a consonant.

yıkamak - yıkanmak - to wash up

söylemek - söylenmek - to mutter to oneself
temizlemek - temizlenmek - to clean up
giymek - giyinmek - to dress (to get dressed)
soymak - soyunmak - to undress (to get undressed)
gezmek - gezinmek - to take a stroll

How used: (How it functions)

The reflexive root is an independent root. It can take all suffixes:
e.g., yıkanmak.
Tense or modal suffixes. yıkanıyor, yıkanmıştı, yıkanacaksanız, etc.
Participles: yıkanan, yıkanacak olan, etc.

Where used: (what notion it carries).

This form is used when the subject acts upon itself.
giyinmek - to dress oneself
soyunmak - to undress oneself
yıkanmak - to wash oneself (to wash up)
Advice:
• This information about the reflexive is given to enable you to recognize the form when you
see it.
• Although it is an active and living form, it is safer to treat it as a vocabulary item.
• Do not create reflexive forms on your own.
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 72

Grammar Notes - Lesson 63

1. -diği halde:

Her tarafı aradığımız halde cüzdanı bulamadık. -Although we searched everywhere we

couldn’t find the wallet.

The fact indicated by the clause with the suffix -diğimiz halde is conceded (we searched
everywhere). However, this does not alter the outcome in the principal proposition. (We couldn’t
find the wallet.)

Orada olmadığım halde ne yaptıklarını biliyorum.- Although I wasn’t there, I know what they did.

I admit that I wasn’t there, and yet I know what they did. My not being there has in no way
prevented my knowing what they did.

This suffix is similar in form and construction to -diği zaman (see Lesson 48) and -diği için
(see Lesson 61). Subject of the clause of concession is indicated by the possessive ending after -
dik, -diğim halde, -diğimiz halde, -dikleri halde, etc.

2. -mişse
The condition upon which the principal action hinges is indicated by adding -sem (-sen, -se,
-sek etc.) to the word showing the condition. (See Grammar Analysis, Lesson 60).
It can also be added to any verb base.

The progressive base - gidiyorsa

aorist base - giderse
past base - gittiyse
-miş base - gitmişse
future base - gidecekse

When we make a condition it means we are not certain whether that condition will be or has
been fulfilled. Because of this element of uncertainty inherent in the conditional form, the
distinction between the witnessed and not witnessed forms are not so clear cut.
However there is a slight difference.

Gitmişse - If he has gone, or if you find out that he has gone.

Gittiyse - If he has gone, or if you know for certain that he is gone, i.e., if you
saw him go.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 73

3. -eceği için
If the principal proposition is a result of consequence of some condition or action
contemporaneous with it, or of some condition or action in the past or some habitual recurring
condition or action, we use the -diği için form.
If the principal proposition is an action which is the result of something which is going to
happen, then we use the -eceği için form.
Yarın sabah erkenden hareket edeceğimiz için - Since we are leaving early tomorrow
bulaşıkları bu akşam bitirelim. morning let’s finish the dirty dishes
tonight.

Bu hafta sonu burada olmayacağım için - Since I’m not going to be here this weekend
pikniğe öbür hafta gideriz, olur mu? we’ll go for a picnic the week following, OK?

Note:
No matter how these ideas are expressed in English so long as it is the purpose, we use
-mek için. If it is the pure result, we use -diği için or -eceği için.

Examples:
Treni kaçırmamak için erken gittiler. - They went early so they wouldn’t miss the train.
(purpose)

Erken gittikleri için iyi bir yer buldular. - They went early, so they got a good seat.
(pure result)
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 74

Grammar Notes - Lesson 64

-seydi (-se + idi)

In the conditional, we feel that we are dealing with an actual problem. Take the following
sentence:

Mektubu bulduysa hemen göndersin. - If he has found the letter, let him send it at once.

Here we are dealing with facts or possible facts which are capable of affecting our everyday
actions or decisions. They affect our practical life.
Let us now take the statement:

Mektubu bulsaydım hemen gönderirdim. - Had I found the letter I would have sent it at
once.

Here we are dealing with something that never occurred. It is contrary to fact. It is a
theoretical problem. Such a statement may give us an insight into the speaker’s character but it has
no practical value as far as that particular event is concerned.
The suffix -seydim or -saydım is added directly to the verb-stem.

Note:
Be very careful to distinguish this form from the past conditional -diysem. There is a
certain similarity and it is easy to confuse them if one is not careful

Contrary to fact - -seydim

Past conditional - -diysem

The second half of the sentence following -seydim always has -erdim or -ecektim.

(1) Gitseydim görürdüm. - Had I gone I would have seen him.

(2) Gitseydim görecektim - Had I gone I was going to see him.

In sentence (1) we use görürdüm to show what would have been the most likely thing for
us to do.
In sentence (2) we use görecektim to indicate that we had planned or made arrangements
to see him.
the -erdim form (sentence 1) is far more common. The situation that is expressed through
that form is far more frequently met with.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 75

Grammar Notes - Lesson 65

Indirect Discourse:
In direct discourse we give the words exactly as they are spoken.
In indirect discourse the words are changed and adapted to the situation in which they are
quoted.
When we introduce the words of a person exactly as they were spoken, we use demek (to
say) or an adverbial form of demek, diye (saying).
Example: ‘Ne yapıyorsunuz?’ dedi. - ‘What are you doing?’ he said.
‘Nereye gidiyorsunuz?’diye sordu. - He questioned me saying,
‘Where are you going?’

In direct discourse, only ‘demek’ or ‘diye’ is used.

In indirect discourse, ‘demek’ is never used. Instead we use ‘söylemek’ (to say, to tell) or
a verb which means to report, inform, communicate, record, question, inquire.

If we are reporting or communicating (writing, phoning etc.) an event which occurred in

the past, is occurring in the present or occurs habitually or regularly, we use the -dik form of the
verb (with the possessive ending) plus the case ending required by the main verb in the sentence.
(Direct) ‘Geldim’, dedim. - ‘I came’, I said.
(Indirect) Geldiğimi söyledim. - I said that I came.
(I told them of my coming)
(Direct) ‘Gittik’ desin. - Let him say, ‘We went’.
(Indirect) Onlara gittiğimizi söylesin. - Let him tell them that we have gone.

Unlike English, the tense or mood of the main verb, here söylesin does not affect the -dik form.

The -dik form is used if (1) the event occurs habitually, (2) has occurred in the past or
(3) is occurring now. The subject of the clause is indicated by the possessive suffix after -dik.

The subject of the clause always has the -in ending. Get into the habit of automatically
putting the -in suffix after the subject of the clause.
Example: (Direct) ‘Ahmet geldi’ dedi.
(Indirect) Ahmet’in geldiğini söyledim.
(Direct) ‘Öğretmen, Ali’ye yeni bir kitap verdi’ diyor.
(Indirect) Öğretmenin Ali’ye yeni bir kitap verdiğini söylüyor.

This construction is very similar to all -dik forms.

See Lesson 48 geldiğim zaman
Lesson 50 verdiğim kalem
Lesson 56 geldiğimden beri
Lesson 61 geldiğim için

For any future event whether expressed with the aorist (giderim) or future (gideceğim) the
form -ecek is used.
‘İki gün sonra gelirim’ dedi. (becomes) İki gün sonra geleceğini söyledi.
‘Ahmet bu akşam bizde kalmayacak’ dedim. (becomes) Ahmet’in bu akşam bizde
kalmayacağını söyledi.

Note: This is very similar to forms discussed in Lessons 59 and 63.

DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 76

Shifting of persons
The same rule is followed as in English. If one visualizes the situation and remembers to
whom and of whom one is speaking, the shifting of persons won’t be too difficult.
One important point, however, must be kept in mind. In a sentence where a third person is
mentioned the pronoun onun always refers to a fourth person. This is so both in direct and
indirect speech.
Example: Ahmet onun parmağını kesti. means Ahmet cut his finger.
(i.e., some person other than Ahmet)

Ahmet parmağını kesti. means Ahmet cut his finger. (his own finger)

It makes no difference whether the ‘witnessed’ or the ‘non-witnessed’ form has been used
in direct discourse. In indirect discourse, only one form is used, i.e., the (-dik) ending for past,
present, and aorist and the (-ecek) ending for the future. Remember that by future is meant the
notional future, for both the present and aorist may indicate future; the ending then will of course
be (-ecek).
Example: ‘Yarın gidiyormuş’ dedi.
Yarın gideceğini söyledi.

‘Bunu sonra yaparım’ dedi.

Bunu sonra yapacağını söyledi.

Examples:

Direct Indirect
1. ‘Ahmet geldi’ dedi. 1. Ahmet’in geldiğini söyledi.
‘Ahmet gelmiş’ dedi. Ahmet’in geldiğini söyledi.

2. ‘Ahmet her gün beşte kalkar’ dedi. 2. Ahmet’in her gün beşte kalktığını söyledi.
‘Ahmet her gün beşte kalkarmış’ dedi. Ahmet’in her gün beşte kalktığını söyledi.

3. ‘Ahmet kahve içiyor’ dedi. 3. Ahmet’in kahve içtiğini söyledi.

‘Ahmet kahve içiyormuş’ dedi. Ahmet’in kahve içtiğini söyledi.

4. ‘Ahmet Ankara’ya gidecek’ dedi. 4. Ahmet’in Ankara’ya gideceğini söyledi.

‘Ahmet Ankara’ya gidecekmiş’ dedi. Ahmet’in Ankara’ya gideceğini söyledi.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 77

Grammar Notes - Lesson 66

Questions In Indirect Discourse

Questions are of two kinds:

A. A request for some new information. The kind of information we are looking for is
indicated by a pronoun such as : kim, ne, hangi, kaç, or some form of these pronouns: kimin,
kimde, niçin, nerede, nesi, hangimiz, hangisinde, kaçta, kaçı.
B. A question which calls for agreement or disagreement. This is the ‘yes’ or ‘no’
type; the (-mi) type of question. In asking this type of question what we want is verification.

1. The first type of interrogative sentence is handled in the same way as the direct statement.
The verbal forms are the same.

Examples:
A. B.
Direct Discourse Indirect Discourse

(Statement) ‘Kalemi aldı’, dedim Kalemi aldığını söyledim.

(Question) ‘Ne aldı?’ diye sordum. Ne aldığını sordum.

(Statement) ‘Kaya mektubu bana Kaya’nın mektubu bana gösterdiğini

gösterdi’ dedim. söyledim.
(Question) ‘Kaya mektubu kime Kaya’nın mektubu kime gösterdiğini
gösterdi?’ diye sordum. sordum.

(Statement) ‘Bunu kimse görmemiş’ dedi. Bunu kimsenin görmediğini söyledi.

(Question) ‘Bunu kaç kişi görmemiş?’ Bunu kaç kişinin görümediğini sordu.
diye sordu.

2. In the second type of interrogative sentence, the (-mi) question (‘yes’ or ‘no’ type) any
element in the sentence may be questioned.
In this lesson, we are going to deal with the interrogative sentence where the verb has the (-
mi) particle.
Example:
Gitti mi? Did he go?
Ali yarın okula gidecek mi? Is Ali going to school tomorrow?

In the indirect form this type of question inquires whether or not a certain act took place (is
taking place or will take place etc.) Since the idea is ‘did he or did he not?’ Turkish renders this:
gidip gitmediğini
gidip gitmeyeceğini
In every other respect it is exactly like the other indirect forms.
Example:
‘Ali, Tom’a mektubu verdi mi?’ diye sordu.
Ali’nin, Tom’a mektubu verip vemediğini sordu.
The first part of this form is always the ver base + -ip whether it is followed by the -dik or -
ecek form. The second part is always negative.
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 78

Grammar Notes - Lesson 67

Intransitive And Transitive Verbs

Intransitive: In intransitive verbs, the action involves the subject only; no person or
object other than the subject is directly involved..
Transitive: In transitive verbs, there is always a person or object other than the subject
that is directly involved.
In English the form of a verb does not usually indicate whether it is used transitively or
intransitively.

Examples:

A B
Intransitive Transitive
The cake cuts easily. John cuts the cake.
The dogs walk. Walk the dogs.
The workers struck. He struck the worker.
The fire caught rapidly. He caught a bird.

In Turkish, we always distinguish between the transitive and intransitive forms of the verb.

Compare the following pairs in English.

Intransitive / sit rise fall lie

Transitive / set raise fell lay

A B
Intransitive Transitive
Lie down. Lay the books on the table.
He fell. He felled trees all day.

Compare with:

Köpekler koşuyor. Köpekleri koşturuyor.

(The dogs are running.) (He is making the dogs run.)

Fincan düştü. Fincanı düşürdü.

(The cup fell.) (He dropped the cup.)

Note: Some transitive verbs can be used without an object. They are then said to be used
‘absolutely’, or if you like, intransitively. When used ‘absolutely’ these verbs have a slightly
different meaning however. Furthermore there is always an object involved.

Examples:
Çok içer. - He drinks a lot.
İyi okur. - He reads well.
Ona yazdım. - I wrote to him.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 79

Note: There are some verbs which take the transitive (or causative) suffix without becoming
transitive.

Examples
şaşmak - to be astonished, amazed
şaşırmak - to get confused

azmak - to become worse

azıtmak - to get out of hand

sapmak - to deviate, to turn (left or right)

sapıtmak - to go mad, to talk nonsense

One thing must be remembered however. Intransitive verbs cannot have a direct object
in Turkish. However, in determining transitivity, meaning must also be considered.

How are Intransitive verbs made Transitive?

Rule: 1 Generally -dir (-dır, -dur, -dür) or -tir (-tır, -tur, -tür) is added to the root.

(Intransitive) koşmak - to run

(Transitive) koşturmak - to run (with objects)

(Intransitive) durmak - to stop

(Transitive) durdurmak - to stop (something, someone etc.)

(Intransitive) dönmek - to turn

(Transitive) döndürmek - to turn (something, someone etc.)

Rule: 2 Roots ending in p, ç, t, or ş take -ir (-ır, -ür, -ur,).

(Intransitive) bitmek - to be finished

(Transitive) bitirmek - to finish, to end (something, or someone etc.)

(Intransitive) kaçmak - to escape

(Transitive) kaçırmak - to let escape

(Intransitive) pişmek - to be cooked

(Transitive) pişirmek - to cook (something)
Note: However, this rule is not consistent. We have, as in the example in (Rule 1), koş which
becomes koştur not koşur, tut, tuttur, yap, yaptır, aç, açtır etc.

Rule: 3 Roots of more than one syllable ending in a vowel take (-t).

(Intransitive) büyümek - to grow

(Transitive) büyütmek - to grow (something), to make grow

Roots of one syllable ending in a vowel take (-dir)

yemek becomes yedirmek

demek becomes dedirtmek
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 80

Rule: 4 Roots of more than one syllable ending in r, or l take (-t) (generally)

(Intransitive) düzelmek - to be improved

(Transitive) düzeltmek - to improve (something)

(Intransitive) kısalmak - to become short, to shorten

(Transitive) kıszaltmak - to shorten (something)

(Intransitive) çoğalmak - to be increased

(Transitive) çöğaltmak - to increase (something)

Note: There are a few monosyllables ending in k which take -it (-ıt, -üt, -ut).

(Intransitive) korkmak - to be afraid

(Transitive) korkutmak - to frighten

(Intransitive) akmak - to flow

(Transitive) akıtmak - to cause to flow, to let the water run

(Intransitive) kokmak - to smell

(Transitive) kokutmak - to cause to smell

(Intransitive) ürkmek - to be startled

(Transitive) ürkütmek - to startle a person
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 81

Grammar Notes - Lesson 69

1. -meli
This suffix is used whenever we want to convey a feeling of compulsion, obligation or
constraint; there is a conviction that this is what should be done.

Examples:
Daha çok çalışmalıyım. - I ought to study more.
Kendini fazla yormamalısın. - You must not get over tired.
Yarın sabah erkenden yola çıkmalıyız. - We must set off early tomorrow morning.
Ceketin ilları biraz daha uzun olmalı. - The arms of the jacket must be (ought to be) a
little longer.

How formed:
The suffix -meli or malı is added to the verb root or base followed by the verb “to be”. So, in
actual practice we add -meliyim, -milisin, -meli etc. or -malıyım, -malısın, -malı, etc.

2. -meliydi:
When -meli is in the past (e.g., -meliydim) it indicates something one should have done
but did not do.

Examples:
Bu mektubu dün göndermeliydin. - You should have sent this letter yesterday.
Onu biz de görmeliydik. - We should have seen it too.

To make -meli past, we add -idim instead of -dim or idim combined with -meli or -malı
gives -meliydim or -malıydım. This is added to the root or base.

al ---------------- almalıydım
gönder --------------- göndermeliydik
yapma --------------- yapmamalıydın

3. Comparing (-meliydim) with (-mem lazımdı):

-meliydim, nearly always implies something one has not done, together with a feeling that
one should have done it. -mem lazımdı indicates something you had to do in the past and did.
(Some instances you didn’t)
Note: Certain literary forms where this is not strictly adhered to are not here taken into
account.
In answer to ‘Niçin gittin?’ We say ‘Gitmem lazımdı.’ (I had to). Not ‘Gitmeliydim.’ (I
should have.)

However it is possible to use (-mem lazımdı) to mean both:

I had to and did
I needed to but did not.
Examples:
1. Gitmem lazımdı de onun için gittim. - I had to go that is why I went.
2. Gitmem lazımdı fakat gidemedim. - I needed to go but could not.

It is important to remember that for gitmem lazımdı in Ex. 2, we may substitute

gitmeliydim; but for gitmem lazımdı in Ex. 1, we cannot.
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 82

Grammar Notes - Lesson 70

Indirect Discourse of olmak (-im, değilim) and (var, yok).

1. Olmak
The subject of the clause always takes the (-in) possession ending in indirect discourse.

Examples: ‘Erol asker’ dedi. Erol’un asker olduğunu söyledi.

‘Talebeler sınıfta değil’ dedim Talebelerin sınıfta olmadığını söyledim.

In the present -im  askerim

in the past (witnessed) -dim (idim)  askerdim
in the past (not witnessed) -mişim (imişim)  askermişim

All become –olduğumu.

Of course, the ending -duğu changes with the person, (-sin -din) etc. will become (olduğunu) and
so on. (See lesson 65)

• In the negative, değilim, değildim, değilmişim will become (olmadığımı)

• In the interrogative, -miyim, -miydim, -miymişim will become (olup olmadığımı)

a) Examples for Affirmative:

Direct - ‘Askerim’ dedim
Indirect - Asker olduğumu söyledim.

Direct - ‘Geçen sene teğmendi.’ dedim.

Indirect - Geçen sene teğmen olduğumu söyledim.

Direct - ‘Yalman öğretminizmiş.’ diyor.

Indirect - Yalman’ın öğretmeniniz olduğunu söylüyor.

b) Examples for Negative:

Direct - ‘Ali hasta değil.’ dedi.
Indirect - Ali’nin hasta olmadığını söyledi.

Direct - ‘Dün evde değildi.’ dedi.

Indirect - Dün evde olmadığnı söyledi.

Direct - ‘Pek zengin değilmiş.’ dedi.

Indirect - Pek zengin olmadığını söyledi.

c) Examples for Interrogative:

Direct - ‘Ali hasta mı?’ diye sordu.
Direct - ‘Ali hasta değil mi?’ diye sordu.
Indirect - Ali’nin hasta olup olmadığını sordu.

Direct - ‘Dün evde miydi?’ diye sordu.

Direct - ‘Dün evde değil miydi?’ diye sordu.
Indirect - Dün evde olup olmadığını sordu.

Compare Grammar Analysis in Lesson 65.

 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 83

2. Var, Yok

Whether var and yok indicate possession or mere being, the construction is the same.

Var and yok disappear and in their place olduğunu and olmadığını is used.

Examples for Possession:

Direct - ‘Hasan’ın bir kitabı var.’ dedim.
Indirect - Hasan’ın bir kitabı olduğunu söyledim.

Direct - ‘Hasan’da bir kitap var.’ dedim.

Indirect - Hasan’da bir kitap olduğunu söyledim.

If you compare the section before var in these two groups you will notice that both
in the Direct and Indirect they are identical.

Note: This same condition will obtain in:

1. The negative form
2. The interrogative form
3. Whether we have var, vardı or varmış

a) Examples for Negative:

Direct - ‘Hasan’ın kitabı yok.’ dedi.
Indirect - Hasan’ın kitabı olmadığını söyledi.

Direct - ‘Hasan’da kitap yok.’ dedi.

Indirect - Hasan’da kitap olmadığını söyledi.

b) Examples for Interrogative:

Direct - ‘Hasan’ın kitabı var mı?’ diye sordu.
Indirect - Hasan’ın kitabı olup olmadığını sordu.

Direct - ‘Hasan’ın kitabı yok mı?’ diye sordu.

Indirect - Hasan’ın kitabı olup olmadığını sordu.

c) Examples for var, vardı and varmış:

Direct - 1. ‘Hasan’da bir kitap var.’ dedi.
2. ‘Hasan’da bir kitap vardı.’ dedi.
3. ‘Hasan’da bir kitap varmış.’ dedi.
Indirect - Hasan’da bir kitap olduğunu söyledi.

All three become olduğunu söyledi.

The interrogative for all three will, of course, be olup olmadığını.

Note this difference:
Direct - ‘Hasan’da kitap yok.’ dedi.
Indirect - Hasan’da kitap olmadığını söyledi.

Direct - ‘Kitap Hasan’da değil.’ dedi.

Indirect - Kitabın Hasan’da olmadığını söyledi.
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 84

Grammar Notes - Lesson 71

Reciprocal:

How formed:
Roots ending in a vowel take -ş
Roots ending in a consonant take -iş, (ış, uş, üş)

What it indicates:
This form indicates that an action is:
1. Mutually exchanged (two people or two parties)
2. Done in cooperation (group)

Example:

1. Bakıştık We exchanged glances.

2. Çocuklar bahçede koşuşuyorlar. The children are running around in the garden.
3. Gülüştüler. There was general laughter. (They all laughed)

There is a latent feeling that the activity of the several participants affect each other. If we
have one boy running around at one end of the garden and another boy running around by
himself at the other end, we would not describe this as koşuşuyorlar. There has to be and
element of running after each other or chasing each other before it can be described as
koşuşmak. Take the following line: O geçmiş günlere ağlaşalım gel. The may be
translated, ‘Come let us weep together for those bygone days.’, but it also indicates that the
weeping of one will affect the other, that they will aggravate each other’s sorrow, otherwise
ağlayalım would have been used instead of ağlaşalım.

Note: This is a very tricky form to handle and not every verb lends itself to it. It
would be advisable for the student to learn the verbs most commonly used with the
reciprocal form, and not try to coin new ones.

There are a number of verbs with this suffix which do not indicate a reciprocal action.
They indicate:
1. conjunction, union, attainment.
ilişmek - to be attached, to molest
erişmek - to reach
ulaşmak - to arrive, to reach
bitişmek - to join, to be along side touching
yapışmak - to stick
yetişmek - to reach, to catch, to be sufficient

2. effort, struggle, labor

uğraşmak - to struggle
çalışmak - to work, to try
çıkışmak - to scold
girişmek - to undertake, to meddle
gelişmek - to develop
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 85

Grammar Notes - Lesson 72

Causative:

The causative is used when we want to indicate that an agent other than the person
initiating the action is involved.
The subject (A) is responsible and initiates the action, but the agent (B) actually does it.
The agent B, when mentioned, always has an (-y)a or (-y)e ending.

Example:
Gömlekleri yıkadım. - I washed the shirts. (I myself did the washing.)
Gömlekleri yıkattım. - I had the shirts washed. (Someone else did the
washing)
Gömlekleri hizmetçiye yıkattım - I had the maid wash the shirts.

How to form the Causative:

The causative suffix is identical to the one used to make transitive verbs out of
intransitive ones. (See Lesson 67.) As a matter of fact, there is an element of the
causative in the transitive form of verbs derived from the intransitive. You make
someone run, etc. If the active agent is some person or creature other than the
subject, we cannot strictly consider it to be causative. Therefore, in the strict sense,
only transitive verbs can be made causative.

1. To the roots of transitive verbs of more than one syllable ending in a vowel we add (-t)
aramak - aratmak
okumak - okutmak
taramak - taratmak

Note: Two very common verbs of one syllable ending in a vowel take -dir.
ye - yedirmek
de - dedirmek

2. Generally (-dir) or (-tir) is added to the root if it ends in a consonant.

vermek - to give
verdirmek - to have someone give

yazmak - to write
yazdırmak - to have soneone write

3. A large number of verb roots ending in (ç, t, p, or ş) take -ir (-ır, -ur, -ür) instead of (-tır).
içmek - to drink
içirmek - to make or have someone drink

There are many exceptions to this rule.

yapmak - to do
yaptırmak - to have someone do

tutmak - to hold
tutturmak - to make someone (or something) hold

yutmak - to swallow
yuturmak - to make someone swallow
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 86

4. Roots of more than one syllable ending in (r or l) usually take (-t).

Example:
getir - to bring
getirtmek - to have someone bring

öldür - to kill
öldürtmek - to have someone kill somebody

The two causative forms of (götürmek) do not mean the same thing.
götürmek - to take or carry
gidermek - to cause to go away, to remove, to cause to disappear.

One also meets with a doubling of the causative suffix. In some cases a second agent is
implied but more often it merely intensifies the feeling to be conveyed. If the first causative ending
is (-tir or -ir), the second causative ending is merely (-t)

kullan - kullandır - kullandırt

ver - verdir - verdirt

If the first causative ending is (-t) then (-tir) is added.

ara - arat - arattır
söyle - söylet - söylettir

The student can forget about this double ending. It is mentioned here merely to inform him
of the fact so that when he comes across it he will know what it is.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 87

Grammar Notes - Lesson 73

Indirect Discourse

-diğini, -eceğini; -mesini

Comparing and contrasting the -diğini and -mesini forms.

Here are a few hints which may help to clarify the difference between these forms:

-dik- (-diğini) | -me- (-mesini)

-ecek- (-eceğini) |
|
Some action or state which is: | Some action or state which is:
perceived by the senses (definite) | an idea, a concept (indefinite)
experienceable | something desired
within the realm of actuality | a request, a proposition, a prospect
disclosed, revealed, or reported | an accomplishment, a skill

All these forms have possessive endings (alacağınız -- your taking) followed by case endings
(alacağınızı -- object of verb). Vowel harmony applies.

Result of observation Result of will or desire

Yazdığını söyledi. Yazmasını söyledi.

He said that he was writing He told him to write.
or He said that he wrote.

Okuduğunu biliyorum. Okumasını biliyorum.

I know that he reads. I know how to read.
or I know that he is reading.

Piyano çaldığını unutmuştum. Piyano çalmasını unutmuştum.

I had forgotten that he played the piano. I had forgotten how to play the piano.

Beklediğini öğrendim. Beklemesini öğrendim.

I found out that he was waiting. I have learned how to wait.
or I found out that he waited.

The following are verbs that can only be used with -diğini and -eceğini forms. These are activities
in which we are essentially observers:
duymak to hear, to sense
gizlemek to hide
görmek to see
haber almak to hear, to receive word
hissetmek, duymak to feel
işitmek to hear
saklamak to hide
sanmak, zannetmek to imagine, to think that...
sezmek to perceive, to discern, to sense
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 88

The following are a few common verbs that can be used with both forms. Note the difference in
meaning when one or the other form is used. Compare with the suggestions given earlier.
söylemek
hatırlatmak, yansıtmak
yazmak

The following are verbs which can only be used with the -mesini form. These activities involve the
will. They are directed to aims and ends.

arzu etmek to desire

emretmek, buyurmak to command
istemek to want
tavsiye etmek to recommend
öğütlemek to recommend
ihtar etmek to warn, to remind
uyarmak to warn, to remind
teklif etmek to suggest, to propose
önermek to suggest, to propose
rica etmek to request
tenbih etmek to admonish
beklemek waiting for something to happen

When it is a question of skill (its acquirement, its possession or its loss) the verb indicating the
skills is always in the third person.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 89

Grammar Notes - Lesson 75

gelir gelmez

Form: The affirmative aorist tense-base followed by the negative.

Examples:
içer içmez
görür görmez
varır varmaz
bulur bulmaz

The form of the suffix is determined by the stem. (See lesson 39 and 40)

Meaning: It places the main event immediately after the action indicated by the verb that
has the -er -mez suffix.
Examples:
Haberi alır almaz sana telefon ettim.
(I phoned you as soon as I got the news.)

Listeyi bitirir bitirmez sana veririm.

( I’ll give you the list as soon as I finish it.)

You will notice that the subject of the temporal clause is the same as the subject of the main
verb. However, if the subject of the clause is someone or something other than the subject
of the main verb it has to be indicated. (Compare -meden önce and -dikten sonra.)

Examples:
Su kaynar kaynamaz ocağı söndür.
(As soon as the water boils turn off the stove.)

Ali gelir gelmez ona bu mektubu ver.

(As soon as Ali comes give him this letter.)
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 90

Grammar Notes - Lesson 76

-ınca (-ince)

An action (A) is followed by and is responsible for action (B). To indicate this we
add -ınca to the root or stem of the verb representing A.
Example:
Beni görünce gülmeye başladı.
(When he saw me he began to laugh.)

How formed:
To the root or stem of the verb representing the action that is responsible for what
follows, we add -ınca, -ince, -unca or -ünce. If the root or stem ends in a vowel a
(y) is placed before -ınca.
Example:
Okumağa başlayınca herkes sustu.
(When he began to read everybody stopped talking.)

Ben, ‘İşte geliyor!’ diyince yerinden fırlayıp kapıya doğru koştu.

(When I said ‘There he comes!’ he sprang up and ran towards the door.)

Note: The suffix -ınca does not indicate any tense or person. The main verb in the sentence
indiates the tense. If the subject of the verb with -ınca is other than the subject of the verb in the
main clause it must be indicated, unless the context makes this unmistakable.
Examples:
Parayı alınca borcumu öderim.
(When I get the money, I’ll pay my debt.)

İçeri girince hepimiz ayağa kalktık.

(When he entered we all stood up.)

Ali uyanınca hemen doktoru çağırdım.

(When Ali woke I immediately called the doctor.)

Otherwise the subject of the verb in the main clause will also be the subject of the verb with
the -ince suffix.
Example:
Beni görünce bana doğru koşmaya başladı.
(When she say me she began to run towards me.)

Note: When -ınca is added to the negative root the meaning is ‘upon something failing to occur’
or ‘when a certain thing did not happen’ the information contained in the main clause occured.
Examples:
Ondan haber almayınca merak etmeğe başladım.
(When I didn’t get any news from him, I began to worry.)

Kapıyı açamayınca kırmaya mecbur oldular.

(When they couldn’t open the door, they were forced to break it down.)
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 91

Grammar Notes - Lesson 77

İnşallah

If inşallah is used with action in the present or past, it indicates a pious hope.
If used by itself in response to a statement, it generally means I hope so.
In the speech of pious people, it simply mean if God wills.

İnşallah bir tehlike yoktur. I hope there is no danger.

İnşallah unutmamışsındır. I hope you haven’t forgotten.
Bizi belkliyordur inşallah. I hope he is waiting for us.

For future events we usually use the -ir form with inşallah. It is important to remember that the
verb -ir does not have -dir. This form indicates that the outcome or decision does not rest entirely
with us. İnşallah becomes more of a statment of hope.
İnşallah onu yarın ben de görürüm.

For definite future plans -ecek is used with inşallah. The course of the future action is already
decided upon, however we can never be certain of what tomorrow might bring. Here inşallah
means ‘God willing.’
Yarın gidip onu göreceğim inşallah.

If we want to express a wish for something not to happen and it is possible for this wish to be
realized, we use inşallah with -mez.
İnşallah yarın gelmez! I hope he doesn’t come tomorrow.
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 92

Grammar Notes - Lesson 79

-ıncaya kadar
How long did or will an action or state last? We can answer this question in four ways.

1. We can give the length of duration in minutes, hours, days, months, etc.
Example:
Sekiz saat uyudum. - I slept eight hours.

2. We can indicate that a certain hour, time of day or date marks the termination of the
action or state.
Example:
Saat onbire kadar uyudum. - I slept till eleven.
Öğleye kadar uyudum. - I slept till noon.

3. We can indicate that a certain location or point marks the termination of an activity.
Examples
İstanbul’dan Ortaköy’e kadar yürüdük - We walked from İstanbul to Ortaköy.
Kitabı başından sonuna kadar okudum. - I read the book from beginning to end.

This indicates the ground covered by the activity rather than the duration.
The question commonly asked is Nereye kadar?

This form may also be used to put (a limit to the amount allowed - quantity.)
Example:
Elli dolara kadar sarf edebilirsin. - You may spend up to fifty dollars.

4. We can indicate that a certain event marks the termination of the action or state.
Example:

Çocuklar beni uyandırıncaya kadar uyumuşum. - I must have slept till the children woke
me up.

To indicate that a certain event marks the termination of an action, we add -ıncaya kadar
to the stem or root of the verb denoting that event.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 93

Note: If the subject of the verb having -ıncaya kadar is other than the subject of the verb in the
main clause it must be indicated.

Examples:

Çocuklar eve dönünceye kadar uyamadık. - We didn’t go to bed till the children
returned home.

Haber alıncaya kadar bekledim. - I waited till I received word.

Tense is indicated by the tense of the main verb. The form having -ıncaya kadar does not
change.

Examples:
Doyuncaya kadar yedim. - I ate till I was satisfied.
Doyuncaya kadar yesin. - Let him eat till he is satisfied.
Doyuncaya kadar yiyeceğim. - I’m going to eat till I am satisfied.
Doyuncaya kadar yersen... - If you eat till you are satisfied...
Doyuncaya kadar yer. - He eats till he is satisfied.
Doyuncaya kadar yediysen... - If you ate till you were satisfied...
Doyuncaya kadar yeseydin... - Had you eaten till you were satisfied...

There is a common feature in all the examples given above; an operation which we
perform and which -e kadar represents that of putting a limit or a bound to an action, or fixing its
time or point of termination.
Notice that the form -e kadar and -ıncaya kadar corresponds to various ways of expressing
a situation in English.

Examples:
1. Eve kadar yürüyelim. - Let’s walk as far as the house.
2. Elli dolara kadar harcedebilirsin. - You may spend up to fifty dollars.
3. İkiye kadar bekledim. - I waited till two.
4. Beşe kadar gelir. - He will come by five.
5. Ben dönünceye kadar burada - Let him wait here until I come.
beklesin.
6. Bir haftaya kadar dönerim. - I’ll be back within a week.

So, you see that -e kadar does not so much have a meaning which corresponds to various
expressions in English as a function which makes meaning.
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 94

Grammar Notes - Lesson 90

-diğinden, -diğinden dolayı
-eceğinden, -eceğinden dolayı

-diğinden, -diğinden dolayı

This form is used when some event or condition is given as the cause or reason for what follows.
The condition or event may be something that occured in the past, is occuring at the present time,
or is a habitual occurrence.

In meaning, -diğinden is the same as -diği için.

The possessive ending after -diği indicates the subject of the clause.

Gitmek istemediğinden yollamadım. All mean:

Gitmek istemediğinden dolayı yollamadım. Because he didn’t want to go I didn’t send him.
Gitmek istemediği için yollamadım.

Hasta olduğumdan yarın okula gidemeyeceğim.

Hasta olduğumdan dolayı yarın okula gidemeyeceğim.
Hasta olduğum için yarın okula gidemeyeceğim.

The suffix -diğinden or -diğinden dolayı is added directly to the stem of the verb that represents
the event or condition.

ötürü may be used in place of dolayı

-diğinden ötürü

-eceğinden, -eceğinden dolayı,

This is like -diğinden, only the cause or reason is some future action or condition, or some
anticipated action.
Geleceğinizden dolayı çok seviniyorum.
I am very happy because you are coming.

Bir iki güne kadar döneceklerinden mektup yazmadım.

Since they were returning in a day or two I didn’t write to them.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 95

Grammar Notes - Lesson 91

-mek and -mek için

-mek

İhtiyatlı olmak iyidir. It is wise to be cautious.

but Onu Cumadan önce görmemiz mümkün değil. It’s impossible for us to see him before
Friday.

You will notice that in the English translation of the second sentence, the infinitive to see has a
definite subject us. Because of this we introduce the clause by for...to. The student is apt to
transfer this to Turkish and use için (i.e. görmemiz için) which is wrong in Turkish. The student
should watch this.

In the first sentence, the infinitive can be used without the for because the subject of the clause is
general or indefinite. This is an instance where the similarity of the two structures leads the
English-speaking student to carry the English idiom over into Turkish.

-mek için is used only when we want to indicate the purpose of the action in the main clause.

Bunu öğrenmek için ne yapmam lazım? What must I do to learn this?

Bunu öğrenmek is the goal we have in mind, the purpose of the activity we are concerned with.
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 96

Grammar Notes - Lesson 92

-diği gibi
-eceği gibi

-diği gibi
Ona meseleyi sana anlattığım gibi anlat. Explain it to him the way I explained it to you.

Sonuç, beklediğimiz gibi çıkmadı. The results didn’t turn out as we expected.

-diği gibi is added directly to the verb-stem representing the action if the action is past, present, or
habitual.

The verb in the main clause can be in any tense or in any mood. It may be conditional, it may be a
request or a question, it may itself be a portion of a larger sentence; the -diği gibi does not change.

The only change in the -digi gibi form is the possessive ending after the -diği indicating the subject
of the clause ending in -diği gibi (-diğim gibi, -diğiniz gibi, -dıkları gibi, etc).

-ecegi gibi

Sana göstereceğim gibi yaparsın. You’ll do it the way I’m going to show you.

If the action or condition in the subordinate clause is to occur at some future time, -eceği gibi is
added directly to the verb-stem representing the action.

This form functions exactly the same as -diği gibi in all respects.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 97

Grammar Notes - Lesson 93

-diği kadar
-eceği kadar

-diği kadar

Onu sevdiğim kadar seni de seviyorum. I love you as much as I love him.
Yiyebildiği kadar yesin. Let him eat as much as he can.
Senin yazdığın kadar yazmamış. He hasn’t written as much as you have.

When the verb in the main clause is positive (seviyorum, yesin), the state or action is equal in
degree to that in the subordinate clause (i.e., the clause with the -diği kadar suffix).

When the verb in the main clause is negative (yazmamış), the action or condition is less in degree
that that in the subordinate clause.

-diği kadar is added directly to the verb-stem. The only substitution is the possessive ending added
to -diği. The kadar part remains constant.

The verb representing the action having the -diği kadar suffix may be in the habitual, past or
present forms.

The two forms -diği gibi and -diği kadar are very similar. The only difference is that -diği gibi
indicates a simple comparison. The action in the main clause is either like or unlike the action in
the subordinate clause.

The -diği kadar, on the other hand, represents the degree of likeness between the action in the
main clause and the action in the subordinate clause. It is either equal in degree (if the verb in the
main clause is positive) or less (if the verb in the main clause is negative.)

-eceği kadar

Bir insan yalnız yiyeceği kadar yemek almalı. One should take only as much food as
one intends to eat.

If the action or state in the subordinate clause is to occur at some future time, or represents
intention, -eceği kadar is added directly to the verb-stem representing that action. This form
functions exactly as -diği kadar in all other respects.
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 98

Grammar Notes - Lesson 98

gidecek yer
yiyecek şey

Here gidecek is like a regular adjective rather than a verbal adjective as in gidecek olan adam. It
means a place to (a place to which one may go).

Yiyecek şey means something to eat

konuşacak adam means a man to talk to

konuşacak olan adam means the man who is going to talk

Notice that in konuşacak olan adam, the man is the subject of konuşacak. He is the man who is
going to do the talking.

In konuşacak adam, the man is the object of the verbal adjective konuşacak. He is the man one is
to talk to or talk with.

konuşacak olan adam sometimes has another form - konuşacak adam - which is identical to the
form presented here. However, there are a number of ways in which the two can be differentiated.

If konuşacak adam means a man who is to talk, konuşacak retains the verbal power of having a
clause, i.e., it can have a direct or indirect object.
Bu akşam bizimle konuşacak adamın ismini biliyor musun?
Do you know the name of the man who is to talk to us tonight?

If, on the other hand, konuşacak adam means a man to talk to, konuşacak is an objective and can
have no object.
Konuşacak kimsem yok. I have no one to talk to.

This form is closer in meaning to the form gideceğim yer. The difference between these two forms
is that yer is a particular place to which a particular person or thing is going. Gideceğim is like
a verb and has a subject, and may have direct or indirect object as well as an adverbial clause.

gidecek yer if it means a place to go is an adjective and cannot change.

gideceği yer means a certain place to which he is going. It has a possessive ending - gideceği.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 99

Grammar Notes - Lesson 100

Intensification of Adjectives

By adding m, p, r, or s to the first syllable of some words (or to the end of the word if it is a word
of one syllable) and placing the syllable so formed before the original word we get an
intensification meaning completely or all over.

1. If the word has more than one syllable and the first syllable ends in a vowel, we add m, p, r or
s to the first syllable and place it before the word.
yeşil ye - şil yemyeşil
uzun u - zun upuzun

2. If the word has more than one syllable and the first syllable ends in a consonant, we change
the consonant to m, p r or s.
ince in - ce ipince
başka baş - ka bambaşka
Note: If the first syllable ends with m, p, r or s, we change it to one of the other three to avoid
repetition.
kırmızı kır - mı - zı kıpkırmızı

3. If the word has only one syllable, the final consonant is changed to m, p, r or s and repreated.
Note: There are almost no adjectives of one syllable ending in a vowel.
boş bomboş
düz dümdüz
mor mosmor

Since there is no definite rule as to which one of the four (m, p, r, s) may be used in these
combinations, a list of the more common ones are given below.
Colors
sarı sapsarı
mavi masmavi
beyaz bembeyaz
siyah simsiyah
kara kapkara
Qualities
açık apaçık
sıkı sımsıkı
tamam tastamam
kuru kupkuru
aydınlık apaydınlık
sivri sipsivri
çabuk çarçabuk
Sometimes an a or an e is placed after p:
sapasağlam
güpegündüz
düpedüz
Sometimes an ıl or il is added after r:
çırılçıplak

These words formed by repeating the first syllable are usually written as one word bomboş.
DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 100

Grammar Notes - Lesson 104

-den başka
-dikten başka

-den başka when added to nouns, pronouns and adjectives means apart from, besides, over and
above the particular item mentioned.

Bunu senden başka kimse bilmiyor.

No one knows this but you.

Oturup da beklemekten başka yapacak bir şey kalmadı.

There is nothing left to do but sit and wait.

-dikten başka is very similar in concept to -den başka. It is added to the verb-stem. The idea is
apart from having done, besides doing, or besides being. The form of -dikten başka does not
change. The subject of the verb in the main clause is also the subject of the verb to which -dikten
başka is added.

Bütün parasını sarf ettikten başka borca da girmiş.

Besides spending all his money, he went into debt.

Çok kabiliyetli bir subay olduktan başka dört beş lisan da bilirmiş.
Besides being a very capable officer, it seems he knows four or five languages.
 DLI Basic Grammar Supplement, p. 101

Grammar Notes - Lesson 108

Verbal Roots

Under separate headings we have already dealt with changes in the basic concept of the verb root
by adding certain suffixes: -in for reflexive, -iş for reciprocal action, -il for passive, -dir for
causative and -me for negative. These suffixes were added to verb roots.

Here we are going to deal with verbal roots obtained by adding certain suffixes to substantives,
adjectives, pronouns and adverbs.

It is not easy to give the sense-relation between a word and the verb roots derived from them. It is
not as simple as giving a general definition of the function of the suffixes. The resulting verb could
be any action that bears a relation to the word it derives from.

-le, -la
This is one of the most common ways of making verbal roots out of nouns.
taş stone taşlamak to stone
su water sulamak to water
baş head başlamak to begin
el hand ellemek to touch or handle
ter sweat terlemek to sweat, perspire

It can be added to adjectives:

temiz clean temizlemek to clean
serin cool serinlemek to cool off
hafif light hafiflemek to get light, to feel lighter

It can be added to adverbs:

yavaş slowly yavaşlamak to slow down

It can be added to words imitating certain sounds:

hor rattling sound horlamak to snore
çın ringing sound çınlamak to make a ringing sound
in moaning sound inlemek to moan

Sometimes verb roots obtained by adding -le cannot be used in the form, but have other suffixes
added to them to form verb roots.
can life can-la-n-mak to come to life
hoş pleasant hoş-la-n-mak to be pleased with something
hasta sick hasta-la-n-mak to become ill
ev house ev-le-n-mek to marry
güzel beautiful güzel-le-ş-mek to become beautiful

Although this is one of the most active suffixes, either in the simple -le form or the combined forms
(-len, -leş), and though it may theoretically be added to almost any word in actual usage, not all
verbs so coined are in current usage.