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Questions & Answers about Bardak kırmızı.
Why is there no linking verb (such as is) in the sentence Bardak kırmızı.?
In Turkish, the present tense of the verb to be is usually omitted when describing inherent characteristics. The adjective kırmızı directly follows the noun bardak to indicate its state, so a separate verb equivalent to is isn’t necessary.
Why doesn’t the sentence include an article like the before bardak?
Turkish does not have articles like a or the. The noun bardak stands alone, and context provides the necessary definiteness, meaning the sentence can be understood as The glass is red.
How does the word order in Bardak kırmızı. compare to the word order in English?
English typically follows a subject-verb-adjective structure—as in The glass is red. In Turkish, however, the linking verb is omitted, resulting in a subject-adjective formation (bardak kırmızı). It’s important to note that when an adjective directly modifies a noun (as in attributive use), the adjective normally comes before the noun (for example, kırmızı bardak means red glass).
Do adjectives in Turkish change to agree with the noun, like in some other languages?
No, adjectives in Turkish do not change according to the noun’s gender, number, or case. The adjective kırmızı remains the same regardless of the noun it describes.
Could the sentence be expressed with an explicit copula, and if so, how?
Yes, it is possible to use a copula for emphasis or in more formal language. By adding the suffix -dır (adjusted for vowel harmony to -dir, -dur, or -dür), the sentence becomes Bardak kırmızıdır. This version explicitly includes the equivalent of is but is often omitted in everyday speech.