Verbs: 'to be' as a Suffix

01

The Personal Suffixes

The suffix changes depending on the person (I, you, we, etc.) and follows vowel harmony rules. The basic forms are:

• Ben (I): -(y)ım, -(y)im, -(y)um, -(y)üm
• Sen (you, singular): -sın, -sin, -sun, -sün
• O (he/she/it): (no suffix, or -dır/-dir/-dur/-dür)
• Biz (we): -(y)ız, -(y)iz, -(y)uz, -(y)üz
• Siz (you, plural/formal): -sınız, -siniz, -sunuz, -sünüz
• Onlar (they): -lar, -ler (or -lardır/-lerdir)

The choice of vowel in the suffix depends on the last vowel of the word it attaches to (vowel harmony).

02

Vowel Harmony and the 'y' Buffer

The system for choosing the correct vowel is called 4-way vowel harmony:

• If the last vowel is a or ı, use the suffix with ı.
• If the last vowel is e or i, use the suffix with i.
• If the last vowel is o or u, use the suffix with u.
• If the last vowel is ö or ü, use the suffix with ü.

For the 'I' (ben) and 'we' (biz) forms, if the word ends in a vowel, a buffer consonant y is inserted before the suffix to separate the two vowels.

Examples with words ending in a consonant

• Ben yorgunum.

  I am tired. (last vowel in yorgun is 'u', so use -um)

• Sen doktorsun.

  You are a doctor. (last vowel in doktor is 'o', so use -sun)

• Biz öğretmeniz.

  We are teachers. (last vowel in öğretmen is 'e', so use -iz)

Examples with words ending in a vowel (requiring 'y' buffer)

• Ben hastayım.

  I am sick. (word hasta ends in 'a', so add 'y' and then -ım)

• Biz öğrenciyiz.

  We are students. (word öğrenci ends in 'i', so add 'y' and then -iz)

03

The Third Person ('is' / 'are')

In simple, everyday statements, the third person singular ('he/she/it') usually takes no suffix.

• O bir mühendis.

  He/She is an engineer.

• Hava güzel.

  The weather is nice.

The suffix -dır (and its variants -dir, -dur, -dür, -tır, -tir, -tur, -tür) can be added for emphasis, to state a general truth or fact, or in formal contexts.

• Bu bir gerçektir.

  This is a fact.

• O bir mühendistir!

  He IS an engineer!

For the third person plural ('they'), the plural suffix -lar/ler is added. The -dır suffix can also be added here for the same reasons.

• Onlar arkadaşlar.

  They are friends.

• Onlar arkadaştırlar.

  They are (indeed) friends.

04

Negative and Question Forms

To make a negative statement, use the word değil (not). The personal suffixes move from the noun/adjective and attach to değil.

• Ben yorgun değilim.

  I am not tired.

• Siz doktor değilsiniz.

  You are not a doctor.

To form a question, use the question particle mi (and its variants mı, mu, mü). The particle comes after the noun/adjective, and the personal suffixes attach to the particle.

• Sen yorgun musun?

  Are you tired?

• O bir öğretmen mi?

  Is he/she a teacher?

• Onlar evdeler mi?

  Are they at home?