Verbals in Turkish
Fiilimsiler
Verbals allow you to turn a verb into a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. They act as bridges between clauses, enabling the creation of long, descriptive sentences without needing multiple finite verbs.
-mak/-makAllows a verb to act as the subject or object of a sentence. · type: Verbal Noun
-an/-enTurns a verb into a description (e.g., 'çalışan kadın' - the working woman). · type: Participle
-erek/-arakDescribes 'how' an action is done (e.g., 'koşarak' - by running). · type: Gerund
The Three Types
Turkish verbals are categorized by their function in the sentence.
| Category | Turkish Name | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Nouns | İsim-Fiil | Used as a noun |
| Participles | Sıfat-Fiil | Used as an adjective |
| Gerunds/Adverbial | Zarf-Fiil | Used as an adverb |
How Verbals Function
Verbals retain their verbal nature (they can take objects) but function as other parts of speech.
Example Sentences
Kitap okumayı seviyorum.I love reading books (verbal noun).
Gelen adam benim babam.The man who is coming is my father (participle).
Ders çalışarak başarılı oldu.He succeeded by studying (gerund).
Gidecek yerimiz yok.We have no place to go (participle).
Suffixes and Examples
Each category uses specific suffixes attached to the verb stem.
| Type | Key Suffixes | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verbal Noun | -mak, -ma, -ış | Okumak (reading) |
| Participle | -an, -en, -dık, -acak | Gelen (the one who comes) |
| Gerund/Adverb | -erek, -ince, -meden | Gülerek (by laughing) |