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Questions & Answers about Okul uzak.
What does Okul uzak literally translate to in English, and why is there no word equivalent to “is” in the sentence?
Okul uzak literally translates to The school is far. In Turkish, the linking verb (such as “is”) is routinely omitted in simple present tense sentences because the structure of the sentence already makes the meaning clear.
Why is the linking verb omitted in Turkish sentences like Okul uzak?
It is standard in Turkish to drop the copula in the present tense. The subject okul (school) and the predicate adjective uzak (far) together convey the full meaning, so an explicit linking verb like “is” is unnecessary.
How does the placement of the adjective uzak in Okul uzak compare to its placement when used attributively?
In Okul uzak, uzak functions as a predicate adjective, coming after the noun to complete the statement (The school is far). When used attributively—that is, when the adjective directly modifies the noun (for example, uzak bir okul meaning a far school)—the adjective is placed before the noun.
Why is there no article such as “the” before okul in the sentence?
Turkish does not use articles like “a” or “the.” The noun okul stands on its own, and definiteness or specificity is inferred from context rather than by using an article.
How would you form the negative version of Okul uzak, and what does it mean?
To negate the sentence, you add değil after the adjective, forming Okul uzak değil. This means The school is not far. The word değil serves to negate the predicate in a structure similar to the affirmative version.