Learn Hardcore Turkish: Araştırma önemli.

In Turkish, the present tense form of the copula (“to be”) is generally omitted in simple declarative sentences. That means adjectives can directly follow the subject to express a state or quality without needing an explicit “is.”

Can I include the verb “to be” if I want to be more formal?

Yes, you can. By adding the suffix -dir to the adjective, you create “Araştırma önemlidir,” which explicitly includes the copula in a formal register. However, in casual usage it is perfectly normal to say “Araştırma önemli.”

What function does the adjective önemli serve in this sentence?

The adjective önemli functions as a predicate adjective, describing the subject araştırma. In Turkish, descriptive statements frequently place the adjective immediately after the noun without an extra linking verb.

Do adjectives in Turkish change form depending on the subject’s number or gender?

No, Turkish adjectives like önemli are invariable. They do not change to agree with the subject in terms of number or gender, which is a notable difference from many other languages.

What does the word araştırma mean and why isn’t it preceded by an article?

Araştırma means “research” or “investigation.” Turkish does not use articles (such as “the” or “a”), so nouns like araştırma appear without any preceding article even though they convey the intended meaning.