Expressing Necessity with 'gerek'

01

With Verbs: The Verbal Noun Structure

The most common way to use gerek is with a verb. To do this, the verb is first turned into a verbal noun using the -me or -ma suffix. Then, a possessive suffix is added to show who needs to perform the action.

The structure is: Verb Stem + -me/-ma + Possessive Suffix + gerek.

• Gitmem gerek. - I need to go. (lit. "my going is necessary")
• Okuman gerek. - You need to read. (lit. "your reading is necessary")
• Çalışması gerek. - He/she/it needs to work. (lit. "his/her/its working is necessary")
• Beklememiz gerek. - We need to wait. (lit. "our waiting is necessary")
• Konuşmanız gerek. - You (pl./formal) need to talk. (lit. "your talking is necessary")
• Gelmeleri gerek. - They need to come. (lit. "their coming is necessary")

• Yarın erken kalkmam gerek.

  I need to get up early tomorrow.

• Bu formu doldurmanız gerek.

  You need to fill out this form.

02

With Nouns

When you need to say that a thing (a noun) is necessary, the structure is simpler. The noun is often in the nominative (basic) case.

The structure is: Noun + gerek.

• Bu iş için daha fazla zaman gerek.

  More time is needed for this job.

• Bana bir kalem gerek.

  I need a pencil. (lit. "To me a pencil is necessary.")

03

The Verb Form: gerekmek

Instead of the simple word gerek, you can also use the conjugated verb gerekmek (to be necessary). This is very common, especially in the present tense form gerekiyor. The meaning is the same, but using the verb form can sometimes sound slightly more formal or definitive. It can be used in various tenses.

Present Tense: gerekiyor

• Hemen çıkmamız gerekiyor.

  We need to leave immediately.

• Doktoru araman gerekiyor.

  You need to call the doctor.

Past Tense: gerekiyordu

• Dün toplantıya katılmam gerekiyordu.

  I had to attend the meeting yesterday.

• Onu daha erken uyarmamız gerekiyordu.

  We should have warned him earlier.

Future Tense: gerekecek

• Yarın bankaya gitmem gerekecek.

  I will need to go to the bank tomorrow.

• Proje için yeni bir bilgisayar alman gerekecek.

  You will need to buy a new computer for the project.

04

Negative and Question Forms

To express that something is not necessary, you can use gerek değil or the negative verb form gerekmiyor.

• Acele etmen gerek değil.

  You don't need to hurry.

• Şimdi ödeme yapmanız gerekmiyor.

  You don't need to pay now.

To ask a question, the question particle mi (or mu) is used.

• Bu kitabı okumam gerek mi?

  Do I need to read this book?

• Toplantıya katılmaları gerekiyor mu?

  Do they need to attend the meeting?