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If you ignore verbs, the preceding pages contain about all there is to learning Turkish word
morphology, like a text for online degrees in the field! However, there are many verb forms to
learn. At least they're fairly well ordered....
Infinitive
Verb Formation
Verbs can be formed from "substantives" or other non-verb words. A few, not many, are
formed simply by adding the infinitive -mek to an adjective or noun.
There aren't many examples of this type of verb formation. Many more verbs are formed by
starting with a substantive word and then adding a suffix and the infinitive -mek. See G.L.
Lewis' Turkish Grammar, chapter 14, sections 20-29.
As Lewis notes, you cannot always guess the meaning of the verb from that of the
starting noun or adjective. Kpek and kuzu mean "dog" and "lamb", respectively, while
kpeklemek and kuzulamak mean "to cringe" to "to lamb", respectively. If kuzalamak
means "to give birth to lambs", then why doesn't kpeklemek mean "to give birth to
puppies"? And why does kpeklemek mean "to cringe" when few mammals of its size
are as easily frightened as a lamb?
Notice that -le- is used for the category of words describing the sounds animals make:
o hav hav = the sound a dog makes, while havlamak = "to 'woof woof' like a
dog"
o miyav = the sound a cat makes, while miyavlamak = "to 'meow' like a cat"
-lenThe reflexive and passive of -le-, also some verbs synonymous with the -le- form, and
some verbs for which there is no -le- form.
o kir = "dirt", kirlemek = "to make dirty", kirlenmek = "to be made dirty".
o temiz = "clean", temizlemek = "to make clean", temizlenmek = "to be made
clean".
o serin = "cool", serinlemek = "to become cool", serinlenmek = "to become
cool".
Note that there are causative forms of these, appending a following -dir or -t- as
discussed in the following section on verb modification. Some make the verb
causitive, some just make another synonym for the -le- form:
o can = "life", canlanmak = "to come to life", canlandrmak = "to bring to life",
o kirlemek = "to make dirty", kirletmek = "to make dirty"
o temiz = "clean", temizlemek = "to make clean", temizletmek = "to be made
clean".
-el- / -lAdded usually to adjectives, infrequently to nouns, to form "to become ..."
o az = "little", while azalmak = "to diminish"
-erUsed with color adjectives to form "to become ...", with other words to form an active
verb. Note, as described in some detail in Lewis' book, that two-syllable color words
actually have their final syllable replaced by -er-.
o az = "white", aarmak = "to become white"
o gk = "blue" or "green", ger or gver = "to become blue green"
o kzl = "red", kzarmak = "to become red" or "to be roasted"
o ya = "moisture", yaarmak = "to become moist"
-seThe only surviving example of the once common "to want" is susamak for "to thirst".
Otherwise, a few verbs use this to form "to regard as ..."
o benim = "mine" (or "of me"), benimsemek = "to regard as one's own"
o mhim = "important", mhimsemek = "to regard as important"
-imse
Used similarly to -se- to form "to regard as ..." or "to consider to be ..."
o az = "little", azmsamak = "to consider inadequate"
o ok = "much", oumsamak = "to consider excessive"
-deUsed in onomatopoeic words which end in r or l and which can be repeated to form an
adverb. For example, czr is "sizzling", the sound made by frying food; czr czr is
then "sizzlingly", and czrdamak is "to make a sizzling sound", and just czrt is the
noun "sizzling". There are similar sets of words for "creaking", "growling", "snoring",
"crunching", "pattering" (as in footsteps), "glittering" (seldom a noisy activity), and
"tapping" (as in ravens at doors).
Verb Modification
There are several ways of modifying verbs to produce related words. Some of these begin to
show how complex verbs, expressed as phrases in English, are made by combining suffixes.
Presumably a large dictionary would cover these other forms, but you often have to
(de)construct your own...
See the aorist section below for an explanation of "aorist" and why these
examples were used.
Passive -n- or -il- or -ino For verb stems ending in vowels, add -nokumak = "to read",
okunmak = "to be read"
o For verb stems ending in consonants other than l, add -ilvermek = "to give",
verilmek = "to be given"
o For verb stems ending in l, add -inbilmek = "to know",
bilinmek = "to be known"
Causative -dir- or -t- or -ito Most verbs add -dirbilmek = "to know",
bildirmek = "to inform" or "to announce"
o Verbs ending in a vowel, or l, or r, add only -tanlamak = "to understand",
anlatmak = "to explain"
o Verbs ending in or add -irimek = "to drink",
iirmek = "to cause or make to drink"
o A few monosyllable verb stems ending in k add -it-.
o Doubly causative verbs are possible:
pimek = "to cook" (intransitive, the meat cooks)
Append
Meaning
Present
-(i)yor-
Future
-(y)ecek-
mi-past
-mi-
di-past
-di-
Both the simple past (did) and the perfect past (have done).
Necessity
-meli-
Conditional
-se-
If ...
With non-simple moods, expresses unfulfilled conditions, hopeless wishes of the
past, etc.
Subjunctive
-e-
4. Select the mood, noting that not all tense/mood combinations exist:
Mood
Append
Conjugation
pattern
Simple
I (mostly)
Past
-idi-
II
Conditional
-ise-
II
Past conditional
-idi- + -isi-
II
Inferential
-imi-
Inferential conditional
-imi- + -ise-
II
Type I
-im
-iz
-sin
-siniz
(-dir)
-(dir)ler
Type II
-m
-k
-n
-niz
-ler
Type III
-eyim
-elim
-esin
-esiniz
-e
-eler
6. Note that there are exceptions in the mapping from simple mood to conjugation
pattern, and some combinations of tense and mood do not exist. Really apply this
pattern:
Simple Past
I
-idi + II
Past
Inferential
Conditiona
conditional
Inferential conditional
l
-idi- + -ise- + I -imi- + I
-imi- + -ise- +
ise + II
I
II
Present
-(i)yor-
General
(aorist)
-(i)r-
Future
-ecek-
mi-past
-mi-
-mi + I -miti + II
di-past
-di-
-di + II
-diydi + II
-diyse + II
Necessity
-meli-
-meli + I
-meliydi + I
-(i)rmi + I -(i)rmise + II
-di idiyse + II
-meliy
mi + I
Conditiona
l
-se + II -seydi + II
-se-
-sey mi + I
Subjunctiv
e
-e + III
-e-
-ey mi + I
-edi + II
Present
-(i)yor-
General
(aorist)
-(i)r-
Simple
I
Past
-idi + II
Conditional
ise + II
Dervileri
gryorum.
I am seeing
Dervishes.
Dervileri
gryordum.
I was seeing
Dervishes.
Dervileri
gryorsam, ...
If I am seeing
Dervishes, ...
Dervileri
gryorduysam, ...
If I was seeing
Dervishes, ...
Dervileri
Dervileri
grrdm.
grrm.
I used to see
I see Dervishes.
Dervishes.
Future
-ecek-
Dervileri
greceim.
I will see
Dervishes.
Dervileri
grrdysem, ...
If I used to see
Dervishes, ...
Dervileri
gryormusam, ...
Dervileri
If, as they say, I am
gryormuum.
seeing Dervishes, ...
I am said to be seeing
or
Dervishes.
If I am said to be
seeing Dervishes, ...
Dervileri
grrmm.
I am said to see
Dervishes.
Dervileri
grrmsem, ...
If, as they say, I see
Dervishes, ...
or
If I am said to see
Dervishes, ...
Dervileri
grecekmisem, ...
If, as they say, I was
going to see Dervishes,
...
or
If I am said to be about
to see Dervishes, ...
Dervileri
greceksem, ...
If I am going to
see Dervishes, ...
Dervileri
grecektiysem, ...
If I was going to
see Dervishes, ...
Dervileri
grecekmiim.
I am said to see
Dervishes.
mi-past
-mi-
Dervileri
Dervileri
grmtm.
grmm.
I had seen
I saw Dervishes.
Dervishes. (so
(so they say)
they say)
Dervileri
grmsem, ...
If I have seen
Dervishes, ...
Dervileri grm
idiysem, ...
If I had seen
Dervishes, ...
Dervileri grm
msem, ...
Dervileri grm
If, as they say, I have
mm.
seen Dervishes, ...
I am said to have seen
or
Dervishes.
If I am said to have
seen Dervishes, ...
di-past
-di-
Dervileri
grdm.
I saw Dervishes.
or
I have seen
Dervishes.
(II)
Dervileri
grdydm.
I had seen
Dervishes.
Dervileri
grdysem.
If I saw
Dervishes, ...
or
If I have seen
Dervishes, ...
Dervileri grd
dysem, ...
If I had seen
Dervishes, ...
Necessity
-meli-
Dervileri
grmeliyim.
I must see
Dervishes.
Dervileri
grmeliydim.
I needed to see
Dervishes.
Dervileri
grmeliymiim.
They say I ought to
see Dervishes.
Dervileri
grseymiim.
They say that if I
were to see
Dervishes, ...
or
They say, "If only I
would see
Dervishes"!
Dervileri
greymiim!
They say, "Would
that I had seen
Dervishes"!
Dervileri
Dervileri
greyim.
Subjunctive I might see
Dervishes,
-emaybe later.
Dervileri
grecektim.
I was going to
see Dervishes.
Dervileri
grrsem, ...
If I see Dervishes,
...
Inferential
conditional
-imi- + -ise- + II
Dervileri
grseydim, ...
Dervileri
greydim!
(III)
Or going to Konya notice the d/t variation in gitmek! In a few verbs (etmek, tatmak,
gitmek, etc) the final t lenites (becomes voiced) before a vowel, but in others it doesn't:
Present
Simple
I
Past
-idi + II
Conditional
ise + II
Inferential
conditional
-imi- + -ise- + II
Konya'ya
Konya'ya
Konya'ya
Konya'ya
Konya'ya
Konya'ya
-(i)yor-
General
(aorist)
-(i)r-
gidiyorum.
I am going to
Konya.
gidiyordum.
I was going to
Konya.
gidiyorsam, ...
If I am going to
Konya, ...
gidiyorduysam, ...
If I was going to
Konya, ...
gidiyormusam, ...
If, as they say, I am
gidiyormuum.
going to Konya, ...
I am said to be going
or
to Konya.
If I am said to be going
to Konya, ...
Konya'ya
giderim.
I go to Konya.
Konya'ya
giderdim.
I used to go to
Konya.
Konya'ya
gidersem, ...
If I go to
Konya, ...
Konya'ya
giderdiysem, ...
If I used to go to
Konya, ...
Konya'ya
gidermisem, ...
Konya'ya gidermiim If, as they say, I go to
I am said to go to
Konya, ...
Konya.
or
If I am said to go to
Konya, ...
Future
-ecek-
Konya'ya
gideceim.
I will go to
Konya.
Konya'ya
gidecektim.
I was going to go
to Konya.
Konya'ya
gideceksem, ...
If I am going to
go to Konya, ...
Konya'ya
gidecekmisem, ...
Konya'ya
Konya'ya
If, as they say, I am
gidecektiysem, ... gidecekmiim.
going to go to
If I was going to go I am said to be going Konya, ...
to Konya, ...
to go to Konya.
or
If I am said to be going
to go to Konya, ...
mi-past
-mi-
Konya'ya
gitmiim.
I went to
Konya. (so they
say)
Konya'ya
gitmitim.
I had gone to
Konya. (so they
say)
Konya'ya
gitmisem, ...
If I have gone to
Konya, ...
Konya'ya gitmi
idiysem, ...
If I had gone to
Konya, ...
Konya'ya gitmi
imiim.
I am said to have
gone to Konya.
Konya'ya gitmi
imisem, ...
If, as they say, I have
gone to Konya, ...
or
If I am said to have
gone to Konya, ...
di-past
-di-
Konya'ya gittim.
I went to
Konya.
or
I have gone to
Konya.
(II)
Konya'ya
gittiytim.
I had gone to
Konya.
Konya'ya
gittiysem.
If I went to
Konya, ...
or
If I have gone to
Konya, ...
Konya'ya gitti
idiysem, ...
If I had gone to
Konya, ...
Necessity
-meli-
Konya'ya
gitmeliyim.
I must go to
Konya.
Konya'ya
gitmeliydim.
I needed to go to
Konya.
Konya'ya
gitmeliymiim.
They say I ought to
go to Konya.
Konya'ya
gitseytim, ...
Konya'ya
gitseymiim.
They say that if I
were to go to
Konya, ...
or
They say, "If only I
would go to Konya"!
Konya'ya
gideydim!
Konya'ya gideymiim!
They say, "Would that
I had gone to Konya"!
Konya'ya
Subjunctive
-e-
Konya'ya
gideyim.
I might go to
Konya, maybe
later
(III)
The above tables may be adequate for your needs. Below here are tables of examples,
including negative, interrogative, and negative interrogative forms. Also the the forms of the
verb to be, participles, ability-to ..., and imperatives.
-di-Past
-dik
-din
-diniz
-di
-diler
-diydik
-diydin
-diydiniz
-diydi
-diydiler
-or-
-dimdi
-dikti
-dindi
-dinizdi
-diydi
-dilerdi
-diysek
-diysen
-diyseniz
-diyse
-diyseler
-or-
-dikse
-dinse
-dinizse
-diyse
-dilerse
-dimse
-di idiysem
-di idiysek
-di idiysen
-di idiyseniz
-di idiyse
-di idiyseler
-or-
-dim idiyse
-dik idiyse
-din idiyse
-din idiyizse
-diy idiyse
-diler idiyse
mi-Past
Positive Interrogative
-miim
-miiz
-mi miyim?
-mi miyiz?
-misin
-misiniz
-mi misin?
-mi misiniz?
-mi
-miler
-mi mi?
-miler mi?
Negative
Negative Interrogative
-memiim
-memiiz
-memi miyim?
-memi miyiz?
-memisin
-memisiniz
-memi misin?
-memi misiniz?
-memi
-memiler
-memi mi?
-memiler mi?
Positive Interrogative
-mitim
-mitik
-mi miydim?
-mi miydik?
-mitin
-mitiniz
-mi miydin?
-mi miydiniz?
-miti
-milerdi
-mi miydi?
-mi miydiler?
Negative
Negative Interrogative
-memitim
-memitik
-memi miydim?
-memi miydik?
-memitin
-memitiniz
-memi miydin?
-memi miydiniz?
-memiti
-memilerdi
-memi miydi?
-memi miydiler?
Negative
-miimdir
-miizdir
-memiimdir
-memiizdir
-misindir
-misenizdir
-memisindir
-memisenizdir
-midir
-milerdir
-memidir
-memilerdir
Negative
-misem
-misek
-memisem
-memisek
-misen
-miseniz
-memisen
-memiseniz
-mise
-miseler
-memise
-memiseler
-mimiiz
-mi imiim
-mi imiiz
-mimiin
-mimiiniz
-mi imiin
-mi imiiniz
-mimi
-mimiler
-mi imi
-mi imiler
-mi imisek
-mi imisen
-mi imisiniz
-mi imise
-mi imiseler
Present
Used for actions in progress, or generally done, or anticipated.
Note that the o in the suffix -yor does not vary under vowel agreement, and so the vowels in
the suffixes added onto that are always back vowels.
Also note that the suffixed -yor is added to a verb stem ending in e or a, then that e or a
"narrows" to i or , respectively. So, I understand would be:
anlamak > anla - yor - um > anlyorum.
The negative is indicated by -me, also subject to this rule, so I do not understand would be:
anlamak > anla -me - yor - um > anlamiyorum.
In the verbs demek ("to say" or "to name") and yemek ("to eat") just the stem e narrows before
y:
denemek -> deneyecek
yenemek -> yeneyecek
but:
demek -> diyecek
yemek -> yiyecek
Negative
-(i)yorum
-(i)yoruz
-miyorum
-miyoruz
-(i)yorsun
-(i)yorsunuz
-miroysun
-miyorsunuz
-(i)yor
-(i)yorlar
-miyor
-miyorlar
Negative
-(i)yordum
-(i)yorduk
-miyordum
-miyorduk
-(i)yordun
-(i)yordunuz
-miroydun
-miyordunuz
-(i)yordu
-(i)yorlard
-(i)yordular
-miyordu
-miyorlard
-miyordular
Negative
-(i)yorsam
-(i)yorsak
-miyorsam
-miyorsak
-(i)yorsan
-(i)yorsanz
-miyorsan
-miyorsanz
-(i)yorsa
-(i)yorlarsa
-(i)yorsalar
-miyorsa
-miyorlarsa
-miyorsalar
Negative
-(i)yorduysam
-(i)yor idiysem
-(i)yorduysak
-(i)yor idiysek
-miyorduysam
-miyor idiysem
-miyorduysak
-miyor idiysek
-(i)yorduysan
-(i)yor idiysen
-(i)yorduysanz
-(i)yor idiyseniz
-miyorduysan
-miyor idiysen
-miyorduysanz
-miyor idiyseniz
-(i)yorduysa
-(i)yor idiyse
-(i)yorduylarsa
-(i)yorduysalar
-miyorduysa
-miyor idiyse
-miyorduylarsa
-miyorduysalar
-(i)yor idiylerse
-(i)yor idiyseler
Konya'da dervileri her gn gryorduysam ...
Konya'da dervileri her gn gryor idiysem ...
Konya'ya derviler gidiyorduylarsa ...
Konya'ya derviler gidiyorduysalar ...
Konya'ya derviler gidiyor idiylerse ...
Konya'ya derviler gidiyor idiyseler ...
Negative
-(i)yormuum
-(i)yormuuz
-miyormuum
-miyormuuz
-(i)yormusun
-(i)yormussunuz
-miyormusun
-miyormussunuz
-(i)yormu
-(i)yormular
-miyormu
-miyormular
-miyor idiylerse
-miyor idiyseler
Negative
-(i)yormusam
-(i)yor imisem
-(i)yormusak
-(i)yor imisek
-miyormusam
-(i)yor imisem
-miyormusak
-(i)yor imisek
-(i)yormusan
-(i)yor imisen
-(i)yormusunaz
-(i)yor imiseniz
-miyormusan
-miyor imisen
-miyormusunaz
-miyor imisen
-(i)yormusa
-(i)yor mise
-(i)yormusalar
-(i)yor imiseler
-miyormusa
-miyor mise
-miyormusalar
-miyor imiseler
General / Aorist
About things always true and hence timeless, denoting continuing activity:
I am painting would use the Present Simple.
I am a painter or I paint would be Aorist.
It is discussed in Turkish Grammar by G.L. Lewis as follows, in chapter 8, section 24:
This term, borrowed from Greek grammar, means 'unbounded' and
well describes what the Turks call geni zaman 'the broad sense',
which denotes continuing activity.
And then in chapter 8, section 25:
Oturur musunuz?
Yarn gelirim.
Olur mu?.
It rr, kervan geer.
-ar + I
anlar = he understands
eder = he does
alr = he takes
bilmek = to do
bilir = he does
bulmak = to find
bulur = he finds
durmak = to stand
durur = he stands
gelmek = to come
gelir = he comes
grmek = to see
grr = he sees
kalmak = to remain
kalr = he remains
lmek = to die
lr = he dies
sanmak = to think
sanr = he thinks
varmak = to reach
varr = he reaches
vermek = to give
verir = he gives
vurmak = to strike
vurur = he strikes
yenmek = to be eaten
yenir = it is eaten
However, yenmek "to win" forms "he wins" as the
expected yener
konumak = to speak
konuur = he speaks
demek = to say
de-n-mek = to be said
der = he says
denir = it is said
Some compound verbs with etmek take -er, in which case there is also lenition, as in "to
transport":
nakletmek -> nakleder
The negative is formed unusually: -mez is used where the -(i)r is used in the positive (and just
-em is used in the first person. See the below tables for examples.
Negative
-(i)rim
-(i)riz
-mem
-meyiz
-(i)rsin
-(i)rsiniz
-mezsin
-mezsiniz
-(i)r
-(i)rler
-mez
-mezler
Negative
-(i)rdim
-(i)rdik
-medim
-medik
-(i)rdin
-(i)rdiniz
-mezdin
-mezdiniz
-(i)rdi
-(i)rdiler
-mezdi
-mezdiler
Negative
-(i)rsem
-(i)rsek
-mesem
-mesek
-(i)rsen
-(i)rseniz
-mezsen
-mezseniz
-(i)rse
-(i)rseler
-(i)rlerse
-mezse
-mezseler
Negative
-(i)rdiysem
-(i)r idiysem
-(i)rdiysek
-(i)r idiysek
-mediysem
-mediysek
-(i)rdiysen
-(i)r idiysen
-(i)rdiyseniz
-(i)r idiyseniz
-mezdiysen
-mezdiyseniz
-(i)rdiyse
-(i)r idiyse
-(i)rdiyseler
-(i)r idiyseler
-mezdiyse
-mezdiyseler
Negative
-(i)rmiim
-(i)rmiiz
-memiim
-memiiz
-(i)rmisin
-(i)rmisiniz
-mezmisin
-mezmisiniz
-(i)rmi
-(i)rmiler
-mezmi
-mezmiler
Negative
-(i)rmisem
-(i)ir imisem
-(i)rmisek
-(i)ir imisek
-memisem
-memisek
-(i)rmisen
-(i)r imisen
-(i)rmiseniz
-(i)r imiseniz
-mezmisen
-mezmiseniz
-(i)rmise
-(i)r imise
-(i)rmiseler
-(i)r imiseler
-mezmise
-mezmiseler
Future
-(y)eceim
-(y)eceiz
-ecek miyim?
-ecek miyiz?
-(y)eceksin
-(y)eceksiniz
-ecek misin?
-ecek misiniz?
-(y)ecektir
-(y)ecekler(dir)
-ecek mi?
-ecekler mi?
-meyeceim
-meyeceiz
-meyecek miyim?
-meyecek miyiz?
-meyeceksin
-meyeceksiniz
-meyecek misin?
-meyecek misiniz?
-meyecektir
-meyecekler(dir)
-meyecek mi?
-meyecekler mi?
Future Past (G.L. Lewis pg 113 sec 22b) Things that were in the future in the
past.
I was going to ... (but since I do not say that it happened, then probably it did not
work out)
-(y)ecektim
-(y)ecektik
-(y)ecektin
-(y)ecektiniz
-(y)ecekti
Konya'da Dervileri grecektim.
Filimi dervileri grecektim,
ama saati yetmidi.
Future Conditional
If I am about to ...
-(y)eceksem
-(y)eceksek
-(y)eceksen
-(y)ecekseniz
-(y)ecekse
-(y)eceklerse
-(y)ecekseler
-(y)ecek idiysek
-(y)ecektiysek
-(y)ecektikse
-(y)ecek idiysen
-(y)ecektiysen
-(y)ecektinse
-(y)ecek idiyniz
-(y)ecektiyseniz
-(y)ecektinizse
-(y)ecek idiyse
-(y)ecektiyse
-(y)ecektise
-(y)ecek idiyseler
-(y)ecektiyseler
-(y)eceklerdiyse
-(y)eceklerdi
I was going to see dervishes in Konya.
A film having-dervishes I-was-going-to-see,
but time I did-not-have.
Future Inferential
I am/was said to be about to ...
-(y)ecek imiim
-(y)ecekmiim
-(y)ecek imisiz
-(y)ecekmisiz
-(y)ecek imisin
-(y)ecekmisin
-(y)ecek imisiniz
-(y)ecekmisiniz
-(y)ecek imi
-(y)ecekmi
-(y)ecek imiler
-(y)ecekmiler
-(y)ecek imisek
-(y)ecekmisek
-(y)ecek imisen
-(y)ecekmisen
-(y)ecek imiseniz
-(y)ecekmiseniz
-(y)ecek imise
-(y)ecekmise
-(y)ecek imiseler
-(y)ecekmiseler
To Be
Some forms are suffixes added to nouns or adjectives only, some forms are independent
words following the noun or adjective, sometimes (as in the past tense) you have a choice.
Past
Past Positive
Past Negative
Enclitic form
Independent
form
Enclitic form
Independent form
-(y)dim -(y)dik
idim
idik
deildim
deildik
deil idim
deil idik
idiniz
deildin
deildiniz
deil idin
deil idiniz
-(y)di
idiler
deildi
deildiler
deil idi
deil idiler
-(y)diler idi
Enclitic form
Independent
form
miydim
miydik?
?
mi idim
deil miydi deil miydik
mi idik?
?
m?
?
Enclitic form
Independent form
deil mi idi deil mi idik
m?
?
miydiler
mi idiler deil miydi deil miydile deil mi idi deil mi idile
mi idi?
?
?
?
r?
?
r?
Dervitim.
Dervi idim.
Dervi miydim?
Dervi miyim?
Dervi deildim.
Dervi deil idim.
Dervi deil miydim?
Dervi deil mi idin?
I was a dervish
Was I a dervish?
I was not a dervish
Was I not a dervish?
Past Conditional
Positive
Suffixed
Suffixed
Independent
-(y)diysem
-(y)diysek
-(y)dimse
-(y)dikse
idiysem
idiysek
-(y)diysen
-(y)diyseniz
-(y)dinse
-(y)dinizse
idiysen
idiysek
-(y)diyse
-(y)diyseler
-(y)diyse
-(y)diyseler
idiyse
idiyseler
Negative
Suffixed
Suffixed
Independent
deildiysem
deildiysek
deildimse
deildikse
deil idiysem
deil idiysek
deildiysen
deildiyseniz
deildinse
deildinizse
deil idiysen
deil idiyseniz
deildiyse
deildiyseler
deildiyse
deildilerse
deil idiyse
deil idiyseler
Independent
-(y)miim
-(y)miiz
imiim
imiiz
-(y)miin
-(y)misiniz
imiin
imisiniz
-(y)mi
-(y)miler
imi
imiler
Negative
Enclitic
Independent
deilmiim
deilmiiz
deil imiim
deil imiiz
deilmisin
deilmisiniz
deil imisin
deil imisiniz
deilmi
deilmiler
deil imi
deil imiler
Dervi imi.
Dervi deil imi.
Independent
-(y)misem
-(y)misek
imisem
imisek
-(y)misen
-(y)miseniz
imisen
imiseniz
-(y)mise
-(y)miseler
imise
imiseler
Negative
Enclitic
Independent
deilmisem
deilmisek
deil imisem
deil imisek
deilmisen
deilmiseniz
deil imisen
deil imiseniz
deilmise
deilmiseler
deil imise
deil imiseler
Present
Note that -dir is not generally used in informal speech or writing. For a copula, or "A
= B" sentence, The girl's name is Fatma:
Formal:
Informal:
In the mosque.
They are in the mosque.
They are surely in the mosque...
They are in the mosque!
They are surely in the mosque...
(supposition)
(emphasis)
(supposition)
Also, -dir may be suffixed to verbs, where it weakens rather than emphasizes the verb.
Biliyorsunuz.
Biliyorsunuzdur.
Arkadama mektup yazdim.
You know.
You surely know. or I presume you know.
I wrote a letter to my friend.
Finally, the particle mi turns the preceding word into a question. It is a separate word
but follows vowel harmony.
Present positive
Present interrogative
-(y)im
-(y)iz
miyim?
miyiz?
-sin
-siniz
misin?
misiniz?
-(dir)
-(dir)ler
mi(dir)?
midirler?
Present negative
deilim
deiliz
deil miyim?
deil miyiz?
deilsin
deilsiniz
deil misin?
deil misiniz?
deildir
deildirler
deil midir?
deil midirler?
Evdeyim.
Evde miyim?
Derviim.
Dervi miyim?
Kzn ad, Fatma'dr.
Kzn ad, Fatma m?
Kzn ad, Fatma mdr?
Dervi deilim.
Dervi deil miyim?
I am at home.
Am I at home?
I am a dervish.
Am I a dervish?
The girl's name is Fatma.
The girl's name, is it Fatma?
I am not a dervish.
Am I not a dervish?
Present II
I am in the act of ...
The infinitive, plus the locative, thus -mekte, followed by some ending of "to be":
Konya'ya gitmekteyim.
Dervileri grmekteymiim.
Var / Yok
There take the place of there are and there are not, respectively:
Mercimek orbas var m?
orba var.
orba yok.
Necessity
Simple necessity
I must, I ought to
Positive
Negative
-meliyim
-meliyiz
-memeliyim
-memeliyiz
-melisin
-melisiniz
-memelisin
-memelisiniz
-meli(dir)
-meli(dir)ler
-memeli(dir)
-memeli(dir)ler
Konya'ya gitmeliyim.
Derviler frl frl dnmeliler.
Derviler frl frl dnmelidirler.
I must go to Konya.
Dervishes must whirl.
Past necessity
I had to do, I should have done
Positive
Negative
-meli idim
-meliydim
-meli idik
-meliydik
-memeli idim
-memeliydim
-memeli idik
-memeliydik
-meli idin
-meliydin
-meli idiniz
-meliydiniz
-memeli idin
-memeliydin
-memeli idiniz
-memeliydiniz
-meli idi
-meliydi
-meli idiler
-meliydiler
-melilerdi
-memeli idi
-meliydi
-memeli idiler
-memeliydiler
-memelilerdi
I had to go to Konya.
Dervishes needed to whirl.
Inferential necessity
They say I must, they say I ought to
Positive
Negative
-meliymiim
-meliymiiz
-memeliymiim
-memeliymiiz
-meliymisin
-meliymisiniz
-memeliymisin
-memeliymisiniz
-meliymi
-meliymiler
-melilermi
-memeliymi
-memeliymiler
-memelilermi
Conditional
Conditional simple
This expresses remote conditions: If I were to ...
and wishes: If only I were to ...
Positive
Negative
-sem
-sek
-mesem
-mesek
-sen
-seniz
-mesen
-meseniz
-se
-seler
-mese
-meseler
Conditional past
This expresses unfulfilled conditions: If I had ...
and hopeless wishes relating to the past: If only I had ...
Positive
Negative
-seydim
-seydik
-meseydim
-meseydik
-seydin
-seydiniz
-meseydin
-meseydiniz
-seydi
-seydiler
-selerdi
-meseydi
-meseydiler
-meselerdi
Konya'ya gitseydim!
Derviler Indiana'ya gitmeseydiler!
Derviler Indiana'ya gitmeselerdi!
Conditional inferential
This quotes remote conditions and wishes:
They say that if I were to ...
They say "If only I were to ..."
Positive
Negative
-seymiim
-seymiiz
-meseymiim
-meseymiiz
-seymisin
-seymisiniz
-meseymisin
-meseymisiniz
-seymi
-seymiler
-selermi
-meseymi
-meseymiler
-meselermi
Subjunctive
Subjunctive simple
As per Lewis, this "expresses concepts envisaged by the subject or the speaker; it
makes no statement about facts, except that the first singular is used colloquially with
future meaning:
Yarn geleyim. Let me come tomorrow -> I may come tomorrow -> I'll come
tomorrow"
The second persons are used in formal speech to relay requests and commands:
Babam dedi ki, yarn bize gelesiniz.
My father said that you-should-come to us tomorrow.
The third singular is used colloquially to ask cautious questions:
Evde mi ola? Might he be at home?
The endings do not follow a consistent pattern used by other verbs, history indicates
that this ending is a hybrid.
Positive
Negative
-eyim
-elim
-meyeyim
-meyelim
-esin
-esiniz
-meyesin
-meyesiniz
-e
-eler
-meye
-meyeler
Subjunctive past
Used to express unfulfillable past wishes. Lewis' example is:
Bileydim buraya kadar gelmezdim. Had I known, I would not have come this far.
Positive
Negative
-eydim
-eydik
-meyeydim
-meyeydik
-eydin
-eydiniz
-meyeydin
-meyeydiniz
-eydi
-eydiler
-elerdi
-meyeydi
-meyeydiler
-meyelerdi
Subjunctive inferential Infrequently used, this quotes the simple and and past
subjunctive:
People say "would that I had ...
Positive
Negative
-eymiim
-eymiiz
-meyeymiim
-meyeymiiz
-eymisin
-eymisiniz
-meyeymisin
-meyeymisiniz
-eymi
-eymiler
-elermi
-meyeymi
-meyeymiler
-meyelermi
Positive ability
Append -(y)ebilmek, conjugated in some form, to the root of the verb:
grmek
to see
Dervileri grebiliyorum.
Dervileri grebiliyordum.
Dervileri grebileceim.
Negative ability
Append -(y)eme to the verb root and conjugate:
Konya'ya gitmedim.
Konya'ya gidemedim.
Egilize anlyorum.
I understand English.
Trke anlmyorum.
Trke anlyamyorum.
Imperative
Second-person form is like a command. Third-person form is used when the command is
about someone, e.g., "Let them eat cake." Second-person singular form is informal or harsh,
and an alternative form is the verb stem with no suffix at all.
The second-person form is like a command. The third-person form is used when the
command is about someone, e.g., "Let them eat cake." The second-person singular
form is informal or harsh, and an alternative form is the verb stem with no suffix at all.
-(y)in
-(y)iniz
-sin
-sinler
Kebab yiyin!
Kebab yiyiniz!
Kebablari yesinler!
Dervi gibi frl frl dnnz!
talk". I have labeled the below tables simply as "participles" when each table really includes
both participles and substantives.
to run
konumak
konumamak
to talk
to not talk
Kpekler
koyorlar.
Bu insanlar
konumyorlar.
koan kpekler
running dogs
konumyan insanlar
koanlar
konumyanlar
kor kpekler
konumyr insanlar
korlar
konumyrlar
Bu insanlar
konumayacaklar.
koacak kpekler
konumayacak insanlar
koacaklar
konumayacaklar
Bu insanlar
konumamlar.
konumam insanlar
komular
konumamlar
to see
grlmek
to be seen
grlmemek
to be unseen
grlmedik
Kpekler
kodlar.
Dogs ran.
Bu insanlar
konumadlar.
kodk kpekler
konumadk insanlar
kodklar
konumadklar
Personal Participles
Add a suffix of possession to mean:
Characterized-by-my/your/his/etc-verbing
bilmek
to know
bildik
bildiim
bildiklerim
Combine -ecei gel- to form it feels like or the time is coming phrases:
stanbul'u greceim geldi.
Verbal Nouns
Infinitive -mek
This takes endings to form the various cases, except for genitives and possessives:
o Absolute
As subject:
Trke renmek ok zor. To learn Turkish is very difficult.
As object of istemek and bilmek (to want and to know):
Trke anlamak istiyorum. I want to understand Turkish.
Kebap almak istiyorum. I want to buy a kebab.
o Accusative as object of other verbs:
Kebap alma unuttum. I forgot to buy a kebap.
o Dative:
Kebap almaa baladm. I began to buy a kebab.
Kebap almaa gittim. I have gone to buy a kebab.
o Locative:
Kebap almakta tehlikeyi grmiyorum. I see no danger in buying a kebap.
o Ablative:
Kebap almaktan kendimi nleyememiim. Apparently I was unable to prevent
myself from buying a kebap.
Gerund
These are adverbal words formed from nouns.
-erek Single act or continued activity simultaneous with or slightly before the main
verb. Often corresponds to by doing or with doing:
o bilerek = knowingly
bilmiyerek = unknowingly
o Kapy aarak evden gitti. Opening the door, he left the house.
-ip Used when there are two verbs with identical suffixes joined by "and", to
simplify the first one. To say We got up and we left:
Kalkp gittik. (and not Kalktk gittik.)
Or, for They are sitting and talking:
Oturup konuuyorlar. (and not Oturuyorlar konuuyorlar.)
-eli, -eli beri, eliden beri, -diX -eli since, with the di-past ending conjugated as
needed.
All these mean Since we came to Istanbul it has not rained:
Biz stanbul'a geleli hi yamur yamad.
Biz stanbul'a geleli beri hi yamur yamad.
-dikten sonra after doing, the converse of -meden evvel / -meden nce
Beni uyandrdktan sonra gitiniz. Leave after waking me.
-r -mez used to mean as soon as, or literally, as I was between the states of doing
and not-doing:
Ben oturur oturmaz telefon ald. As soon as I was sitting down, the telephone rang.