Köpek bahçede.

to be

Breakdown of Köpek bahçede.

• köpek: the dog

Questions & Answers about Köpek bahçede.

Why is there no verb like is in the sentence?

In Turkish, the present tense form of the copula (i.e., is) is often omitted in simple sentences that state location or condition. Even though there’s no explicit verb, the meaning is understood contextually, so Köpek bahçede naturally translates as "The dog is in the garden."

What does the word bahçede indicate in this sentence?

Bahçede is the noun bahçe (meaning "garden") with the locative suffix -de attached. The suffix -de indicates location, so bahçede means "in the garden."

Why is there no article (like the or a) before köpek?

Turkish does not have articles similar to the or a. Instead, whether a noun is definite or indefinite is determined by context. Thus, köpek simply translates as "dog," and context tells us if it’s referring to a specific dog or dogs in general.

What is the overall structure of the sentence Köpek bahçede?

The sentence consists of a subject (köpek) followed immediately by a locative predicate (bahçede). Turkish often leaves out the copular verb when stating location or state, so even without a verb, the sentence clearly communicates that "the dog is in the garden."

How is the locative case formed for nouns like bahçe in Turkish?

The locative case in Turkish is formed by attaching the suffix -de (or -da, depending on vowel harmony) to a noun. For bahçe, the suffix -de is added to create bahçede, which means "in the garden." The suffix choice adheres to Turkish vowel harmony rules.