Köpek iyi oynuyor.

The dog is playing well.

Breakdown of Köpek iyi oynuyor.

• köpek: the dog
• oynamak: to play
• iyi: well

Questions & Answers about Köpek iyi oynuyor.

Why is there no definite article (like the) before köpek in this sentence?

Turkish does not use articles such as the or a/an. In Turkish, a noun like köpek can refer to a dog in general or a specific dog based on context, without needing an extra word to indicate definiteness.

How does iyi function here—is it an adjective or an adverb?

In Turkish, adjectives often directly modify verbs and serve the role of adverbs without any change in form. Although iyi typically means good when describing a noun, in this sentence it is used to describe how the dog is playing—thus functioning adverbially as well.

What tense is expressed by oynuyor, and how is that form constructed?

The verb oynuyor is in the present continuous tense. It is formed by taking the root oyna- (meaning to play) and adding the continuous aspect marker -yor. This construction indicates an action that is ongoing or occurring at the present moment.

Why is the subject köpek placed at the beginning of the sentence?

Turkish typically follows a subject-object-verb (SOV) word order, and with no object present, the sentence naturally arranges as subject–adverb–verb. Placing köpek first clearly identifies it as the doer of the action, even without an explicit subject pronoun.

Can you break down the structure of oynuyor to explain its components?

Certainly. Oynuyor comes from the verb oynamak (to play). The base form is oyna-, and the suffix -yor is added to indicate the continuous (ongoing) aspect in the present tense. The resulting form, oynuyor, tells us that the action of playing is happening right now.

Is it possible to change the word order in a Turkish sentence like this for emphasis, and if so, how would that work?

Yes, Turkish allows flexibility in word order to emphasize certain parts of a sentence. Although the default is SOV, moving elements such as the adverb iyi can shift the focus. For example, one could say İyi oynuyor köpek to emphasize the quality of the playing or Köpek oynuyor iyi in a more colloquial setting. However, the standard and clearest form is köpek iyi oynuyor.