Masanın üstü temiz.

to be

Breakdown of Masanın üstü temiz.

• masa: the table
• temiz: clean
• üst: the top

Questions & Answers about Masanın üstü temiz.

What does masanın mean in this sentence?

Masanın is derived from masa (meaning table) with the genitive suffix -nın, which denotes possession. It literally translates as "of the table" or "table's" in English.

How is the word üstü formed, and what does it signify?

Üst means "top" or "surface". In the sentence, it takes the possessive suffix -ü, which agrees with masa to indicate that the top belongs to the table. So üstü means "its top" (i.e., the table's top).

Why is there no explicit verb like "is" in the sentence?

In Turkish, the present simple form of the verb "to be" is commonly omitted in nominal sentences. The structure Masanın üstü temiz is understood as "The table's top is clean" without needing an explicit copula like "is."

How does Turkish express possession differently compared to English in this sentence?

Turkish relies on suffixes to indicate possession. In masanın üstü, the possessor masa receives a genitive suffix (-nın) while the possessed noun üst takes a possessive suffix (-ü) reflecting the agreement. In contrast, English uses the apostrophe-s or prepositions (e.g., of) to show possession.

How does vowel harmony affect the suffixes used in masanın üstü temiz?

Turkish suffixes are designed to match the vowels of the word they attach to, ensuring smooth pronunciation. For example, the genitive suffix -nın in masanın is chosen based on the vowels in masa, and the possessive suffix -ü on üst complies with the vowel sounds of the word. This alteration based on vowel harmony is a key feature of Turkish morphology.