Bu merdiven çok dik, ama sağlığımız için biraz fiziksel hareket yapmalıyız.

to be

Breakdown of Bu merdiven çok dik, ama sağlığımız için biraz fiziksel hareket yapmalıyız.

• çok: very
• bu: this
• yapmak: to do
• ama: but
• bizim: our
• biraz: some
• için: for
• fiziksel: physical
• dik: steep
• hareket: the activity

Questions & Answers about Bu merdiven çok dik, ama sağlığımız için biraz fiziksel hareket yapmalıyız.

Why is there no linking verb (such as “is”) in the clause “Bu merdiven çok dik”?

In Turkish, the present simple often omits the copula. Instead of explicitly saying “This staircase is very steep,” Turkish directly uses the adjective “dik” after the subject “Bu merdiven.” The state of being is understood without a separate verb.

What does “sağlığımız için” literally mean and how is it constructed?

“Sağlık” means health. The suffix -ımız attaches to “sağlık” to indicate possession, so “sağlığımız” means our health. The word için means for. Together, “sağlığımız için” translates literally as for our health.

How is the modal expression “yapmalıyız” formed and what does it indicate?

“Yapmalıyız” is built from the verb yapmak (to do) by adding the necessity suffix -malı/-meli to express obligation, then appending the first-person plural ending -yız (we). Thus, it means we should do or we must do.

What role does “biraz” play in the sentence, and how is it used?

“Biraz” means a little or some. It functions as a quantifier modifying the noun phrase “fiziksel hareket” (physical movement/exercise), indicating that only a small amount of physical activity is recommended.

What does “fiziksel hareket” refer to, and is it equivalent to “physical exercise” in English?

“Fiziksel” is an adjective meaning physical, and “hareket” means movement. In this context, “fiziksel hareket” is understood as physical exercise—a term used to emphasize bodily movement that benefits health. Note that while Turkish also uses a loanword like egzersiz, this literally formed phrase conveys a similar idea.

Why is there a comma before “ama” in the sentence?

In Turkish, commas are used to separate independent clauses within compound sentences. The word ama means but and introduces a contrasting clause. Therefore, the comma before “ama” clearly separates the observation about the steep staircase from the statement about needing some physical activity.

How are adjectives and quantifiers ordered in “biraz fiziksel hareket” according to Turkish grammar?

In Turkish, adjectives and quantifiers always precede the noun they modify. Here, fiziksel (physical) comes directly before hareket (movement/exercise), and biraz (a little/some) quantifies the entire noun phrase. This order is typical and natural in Turkish sentence structure.

Are there any pronunciation tips for words like “sağlığımız,” especially regarding the letters “ğ” and “ı”?

Yes. The letter ğ (known as yumuşak g or soft g) does not have a distinct sound; it lengthens the preceding vowel instead of being pronounced like a hard “g.” The vowel ı is pronounced as a close, neutral sound that does not exist in English (similar to a schwa). So “sağlığımız” sounds roughly like sah-luh-muhz, with the “ğ” serving to soften and extend the sound of the preceding vowel.