Köprü uzun.

The bridge is long.

Breakdown of Köprü uzun.

• olmak: to be
• uzun: long
• köprü: the bridge

Questions & Answers about Köprü uzun.

Why is there no verb equivalent to “is” in “Köprü uzun.”?

In Turkish, the present tense of the copula (the verb “to be”) is usually omitted. Instead of explicitly saying “The bridge is long,” the sentence “Köprü uzun.” implies the copula, which is a common feature in Turkish sentence structure.

Why isn’t there a definite article before “köprü”?

Turkish does not have articles like “a” or “the.” The noun köprü stands alone, and its definiteness or indefiniteness is typically inferred from context rather than marked explicitly with an article.

How is the Turkish character ö pronounced in köprü?

The letter ö represents a front rounded vowel that does not have an exact equivalent in standard English. To approximate it, try pronouncing a sound similar to the vowel in the French word “sœur” or the German “schön.” Practice by rounding your lips while trying to say an “e” sound until you get used to it.

What grammatical role does uzun play in the sentence “Köprü uzun.”?

Uzun functions as a predicate adjective in the sentence. It directly describes the subject köprü (bridge), indicating a state or quality, which is typical in Turkish when the copula is omitted.

What is the difference between “Köprü uzun.” and “Uzun köprü.”?

“Köprü uzun.” is a complete sentence that means “The bridge is long,” with uzun serving as the predicate adjective describing the subject. In contrast, “Uzun köprü” is a noun phrase used attributively to mean “long bridge,” where the adjective uzun comes before the noun to specify a type of bridge.