Learn Hardcore Turkish: Kalite yüksek.

In Turkish, the present tense of the verb to be is usually omitted when it can be understood from the context. So even though in English we say “Quality is high,” Turkish simply expresses this idea as Kalite yüksek.

How does the word order in Kalite yüksek. differ from that of a similar English sentence?

In English, we typically say “The quality is high,” using a copula (“is”) to connect the subject and predicate. In Turkish, the structure is streamlined; the noun (kalite) comes first as the subject, followed directly by the predicate adjective (yüksek), with the linking verb understood rather than explicitly stated.

Why isn’t there any article (like the or a) before kalite?

Turkish does not use articles such as the or a. Nouns stand on their own without the need for an article, so kalite means “quality” in a general sense without any additional modification.

In Turkish, do adjectives always follow the noun like in Kalite yüksek.?

Not exactly. When adjectives modify a noun directly, they usually precede the noun (for example, yüksek kalite means “high quality”). However, in a predicate sentence where the noun is being described, the adjective follows the noun. In Kalite yüksek., yüksek functions as a predicate adjective describing the noun kalite.

Is Kalite yüksek. considered a complete sentence even though it appears so brief?

Yes, it is complete. The sentence has a subject (kalite) and a predicate adjective (yüksek), which together express a full thought equivalent to “Quality is high.” The omission of the copular verb is a common and acceptable feature in Turkish sentence structure.