Breakdown of Yedi renkli kalem masada.
olmak
to be
kalem
the pen
masa
the table
renkli
colorful
-da
on
yedi
seven
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Turkish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Yedi renkli kalem masada.
What does the sentence Yedi renkli kalem masada mean?
It translates to "Seven colorful pencils are on the table." Note that although kalem appears in its singular form, the numeral yedi (seven) makes it clear that multiple pencils are being referred to.
Why is there no plural suffix on kalem even though the sentence implies several pencils?
In Turkish, when a noun is preceded by a numeral, it remains in the singular form. The numeral itself indicates the plurality, so instead of adding a plural suffix (like -ler), you simply say yedi kalem.
How is the locative meaning expressed in this sentence?
The locative is indicated by the suffix -da attached to masa (table). Thus, masada means "on the table" or "at the table."
What role does the adjective renkli play in the phrase?
Renkli means "colorful" and is derived from renk (color) by adding the suffix -li, which implies "having" or "full of." It describes the pencils by indicating that they are colorful.
Why is there no explicit verb (like "are") in the sentence?
Turkish often omits the copula (the equivalent of "to be") in simple descriptive or locative statements. Therefore, the sentence Yedi renkli kalem masada is complete and natural without an explicit verb.