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Questions & Answers about Kalem kırmızı, benimki mavi.
What is the literal word-by-word translation of Kalem kırmızı, benimki mavi?
It translates literally as "Pen red, mine blue." However, in proper English it means "The pen is red, mine is blue." The linking verb "is" is understood in Turkish and therefore omitted.
Why is there no verb equivalent to "is" in this Turkish sentence?
In Turkish, especially in simple descriptive sentences, the copula (the word for "is") is often left out because the context already makes it clear. So, Kalem kırmızı naturally means "The pen is red" without needing an explicit verb.
What does the word benimki mean and how is it constructed?
Benimki means "mine." It is formed by taking benim (which means "my") and adding the suffix -ki, which serves as a possessive pronoun replacing the noun. This construction indicates "the one that belongs to me."
What is the difference between "Kalem kırmızı" and "Kırmızı kalem"?
When you say "Kırmızı kalem," the adjective kırmızı comes before the noun and functions attributively, directly modifying kalem to mean "red pen." In contrast, "Kalem kırmızı" uses the adjective as a predicate, meaning "The pen is red." The word order changes the sentence structure from an attributive phrase to a descriptive statement.
Why is a comma used between the two parts of the sentence?
The comma separates two distinct, contrasting statements: one about the color of the pen (The pen is red) and the other about the speaker’s own pen (mine is blue). This punctuation is common in Turkish to link related ideas without needing an explicit conjunction.