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Questions & Answers about Okul binası sağlam.
Why is there no verb equivalent to “is” in the sentence “Okul binası sağlam”?
In Turkish, the present tense copula (the equivalent of “is”) is usually omitted. The adjective “sağlam” serves directly as the predicate, so the meaning “The school building is sturdy” is understood without using an explicit linking verb.
What does the phrase “okul binası” literally mean, and how is possession indicated?
“Okul” means school and “bina” means building. The suffix -sı attached to “bina” indicates third-person singular possession, showing that the building belongs to the school. Thus, “okul binası” translates literally as “the school’s building” or simply “school building.”
Why does the adjective “sağlam” come after “okul binası” in this sentence?
In this construction, “okul binası” is the subject and “sağlam” functions as the predicate adjective describing its state. Predicate adjectives typically follow the subject in Turkish sentences, whereas attributive adjectives modifying a noun directly would come before that noun.
Can the sentence be expressed with an explicit copula, and if so, how?
Yes, in more formal or written Turkish you can include a copula. For example, you could say “Okul binası sağlamdır,” where the suffix -dır acts as an explicit copula meaning “is.” In everyday speech, however, the copula is commonly omitted.
How does the possessive suffix -sı in “binası” work?
The suffix -sı is a third-person singular possessive marker. It attaches to the noun “bina” (building) to indicate that it is possessed by or belongs to “okul” (school). This morphological feature is how Turkish expresses possession within compound noun phrases.