Postpositions in Turkish
İlgeçler
Unlike English, where prepositions come before the noun, Turkish uses postpositions which follow the noun and dictate which case the noun must take.
ile / -(y)leCan be used as a separate word 'ile' or as a suffix attached to the word.
içinUsually follows pronouns in the Nominative case (ben, sen, biz).
göreAlways used with the Dative case (e.g., 'bana göre' - according to me).
önce/sonraAlways follows the Ablative case (e.g., 'ders-ten önce' - before the lesson).
Common Postpositions
These are essential for indicating relationship, direction, and companionship.
| Postposition | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ile / -le | with | arkadaşımla (with my friend) |
| için | for | senin için (for you) |
| gibi | like/as | melek gibi (like an angel) |
| kadar | as much as / until | ona kadar (until/up to him) |
How to use them
Remember these structural differences:
Example Sentences
Senin için bir hediye aldım.I bought a gift for you.
Filmden sonra kahve içtik.We drank coffee after the movie.
O, babası gibi çalışkan.He is hardworking like his father.
Sence bu doğru mu?According to you, is this correct?
Case Dependencies
Postpositions are picky! The noun preceding them must often be in a specific case.
| Case Requirement | Postpositions | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | gibi, için | kitap gibi, senin için |
| Dative (-a/-e) | kadar, göre | bana göre (according to me) |
| Ablative (-dan/-den) | sonra, önce | yemekten sonra (after the meal) |
| Genitive (-ın/-in) | tarafından, arkasında | evin arkasında (behind the house) |