Sen kitap okuyorsun, değil mi?

the book

Breakdown of Sen kitap okuyorsun, değil mi?

• okumak: to read
• sen: you
• değil mi: right

Questions & Answers about Sen kitap okuyorsun, değil mi?

What does each word in the sentence mean, and how is the sentence structured in Turkish compared to English?

In this sentence, sen means you, kitap means book, okuyorsun means are reading (formed as the present continuous of okumak, “to read”), and değil mi? is a tag question that roughly translates to “isn’t it?” or “aren’t you?” The overall structure follows the typical Turkish Subject-Object-Verb order—you (sen) book (kitap) are reading (okuyorsun)—which is different from English’s usual Subject-Verb-Object order.

Why is the subject pronoun sen explicitly used even though the verb okuyorsun already indicates the second person?

Turkish verb endings include information about the person, so the subject pronoun is often omitted. However, in this sentence sen is included for clarity or emphasis, ensuring that the focus remains on “you” as the subject.

How is the present continuous tense formed in okuyorsun?

The present continuous is formed by adding the continuous marker -yor to the verb stem oku- (from okumak, “to read”) and then attaching the second person singular ending -sun. This results in okuyorsun, which means you are reading.

What role does değil mi? play in this sentence?

Değil mi? functions as a confirmation or tag question. It turns the statement into a yes/no question by inviting the listener to agree or verify what has been said, much like saying “isn’t it?” or “aren’t you?” in English.

Why is there a comma before değil mi?, and is this punctuation necessary?

The comma separates the main statement from the confirmation tag. It helps clarify that değil mi? is an appended question seeking confirmation. While spoken Turkish may rely on intonation, using a comma in writing enhances clarity.

Can a question be formed in Turkish without using değil mi?, and if so, how?

Yes, it’s possible to form a question through a change in intonation or by restructuring the sentence. However, using değil mi? is a standard and clear way to ask for confirmation, making it especially useful for learners who are getting used to the nuances of Turkish question forms.