Köpek siyah.

to be

Breakdown of Köpek siyah.

• köpek: the dog
• siyah: black

Questions & Answers about Köpek siyah.

Why is there no verb equivalent to “is” in the sentence Köpek siyah.?

In Turkish, the present tense of the verb “to be” is typically omitted when it functions as a linking verb in a stative sentence. The sentence directly connects the subject with its predicate adjective without needing an explicit “is.”

What are the meanings of the words Köpek and siyah, and how does the absence of articles affect the translation?

Köpek means dog and siyah means black. Although one might translate Köpek siyah. as “The dog is black” in English, Turkish does not use articles like “a” or “the.” Context helps determine whether the statement is about a specific dog or dogs in general.

Why is the adjective siyah placed after the noun Köpek instead of before it?

When an adjective functions as a predicate (describing the subject) in Turkish, it follows the noun. In contrast, when adjectives directly modify a noun (as in attributive use), they precede the noun—for example, siyah köpek would mean “black dog.” In Köpek siyah., siyah is a predicate adjective.

Do adjectives in Turkish change form to reflect gender, number, or case?

No, adjectives in Turkish remain unchanged regardless of the noun’s gender, number, or case. The adjective siyah stays the same whether referring to a single dog, multiple dogs, or adjusting for different cases.

How can I apply this structure to create similar sentences in Turkish?

You can use the same pattern for other subjects and adjectives. Simply state the subject followed by the predicate adjective, omitting the verb “to be.” For example, Araba yeni. translates as “The car is new.” This construction emphasizes the state or quality of the subject without needing an explicit linking verb.