Learn Hardcore Turkish: Toplumsal sorumluluk önemli. - Social responsibility is important.

In Turkish, the present tense of the verb “to be” is typically omitted in equational sentences. Thus, Toplumsal sorumluluk önemli. directly translates to “Social responsibility [is] important.” The copula “is” is understood from context and isn’t explicitly stated.

What does the word “toplumsal” mean and how is it formed?

The adjective “toplumsal” means “social” or “societal.” It is derived from the noun “toplum” (meaning “society”) with the adjective-forming suffix “-sal,” which implies “pertaining to.” So, toplumsal describes something related to society.

What is the structure of the sentence, and how does it compare to English?

The sentence is structured with a subject, “toplumsal sorumluluk” (“social responsibility”), followed by a predicate adjective, “önemli” (“important”). In English, we require an explicit linking verb (i.e., “is”). Turkish, however, often omits this linking verb in the present tense, so the structure works without it.

Do adjectives in Turkish change form based on gender or number?

No, Turkish adjectives do not change to reflect gender or number. In Toplumsal sorumluluk önemli, the adjectives “toplumsal” and “önemli” remain unchanged regardless of the noun “sorumluluk” (responsibility). This contrasts with some languages where adjectives agree grammatically with the nouns they modify.

Is the word order in this Turkish sentence flexible compared to English?

In this sentence, the word order is similar to English when expressing an equational idea (subject followed by a predicate adjective). However, while English requires a linking verb and often a more fixed subject + verb + complement order, Turkish typically omits the copula in simple present sentences and may allow for flexible word order in other contexts. Here, though, the straightforward Subject (toplumsal sorumluluk) + Predicate (önemli) structure mirrors the basic idea of the English sentence.