Nehir yavaş akıyor.

The river flows slowly.

Breakdown of Nehir yavaş akıyor.

• yavaş: slowly
• nehir: the river
• akmak: to flow

Questions & Answers about Nehir yavaş akıyor.

What does the suffix -ıyor in akıyor indicate and how is it used to form the present continuous tense in Turkish?

In Turkish, the suffix -ıyor (along with its vowel-harmonized variants -iyor, -uyor, -üyor) is used to create the present continuous tense. Here, it attaches to the verb stem from akmak (to flow) to form akıyor, meaning "is flowing." This suffix signals an action that is ongoing and follows the rules of vowel harmony based on the stem's vowels.

Why doesn't the noun nehir have an article like "the" before it?

Turkish does not include articles such as "a" or "the." The noun nehir simply means "river," and definiteness is understood from the context rather than through explicit articles, which makes the inclusion of an article unnecessary in Turkish.

What role does the adverb yavaş play in the sentence?

The adverb yavaş means "slowly" and modifies the verb akıyor by describing how the action is performed. In Turkish, adverbs typically come before the verb they modify, directly influencing the manner in which the action occurs in the sentence.

What does the sentence structure of Nehir yavaş akıyor reveal about Turkish word order?

The sentence follows a typical Subject–Adverb–Verb order. Nehir is the subject, yavaş is an adverb modifying the action, and akıyor is the verb. This arrangement shows how Turkish often structures simple sentences without relying on complex word order changes seen in some other languages.

Is it necessary to include subject pronouns in Turkish sentences like this one?

No, it is not necessary. In Turkish, verb conjugations already indicate the subject, so explicit subject pronouns are often omitted. In akıyor, the verb ending clearly marks a third-person singular subject, matching nehir, making an additional pronoun redundant.