Breakdown of Kitap herkes tarafından iyi bilinmektedir.
kitap
the book
herkes
everyone
iyi
well
tarafından
by
bilinmek
to be known
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Questions & Answers about Kitap herkes tarafından iyi bilinmektedir.
What is the function of tarafından in this sentence?
Tarafından marks the agent in a passive sentence. In this context, it translates to “by”, indicating that the action of knowing is performed by everyone. So, herkes tarafından means “by everyone.”
How is the passive voice formed in this sentence, particularly in the word bilinmektedir?
The passive construction starts with the verb bilmek (to know). By adding the passive suffix -il, it becomes bilinmek (to be known). Then, the tense and aspect are expressed by appending the suffix -mektedir, which gives us bilinmektedir. This form is common in formal or written Turkish to state general or factual information.
Why is bilinmektedir used instead of a form like bilinir?
Both bilinir and bilinmektedir can mean “is known.” However, bilinmektedir is generally considered a more formal and neutral way to express a habitual or general truth. It’s frequently used in academic or official contexts, lending an objective tone to the statement.
In this sentence, how does iyi function? Does it mean “good” or “well”?
While iyi typically means “good” as an adjective, in this sentence it functions adverbially—modifying the passive verb to indicate the quality of being known. Turkish does not always distinguish between adjective and adverb forms, so iyi here effectively means “well,” implying that the book is known in a favorable or recognized manner.
What is the typical word order in this Turkish passive sentence?
Turkish often follows a Subject–Agent–Verb order in passive constructions. In this sentence: • Kitap (the book) is the subject, • herkes tarafından (by everyone) is the agent phrase, • iyi (well) serves as a descriptive modifier, and • bilinmektedir (is known) concludes the sentence as the passive verb. This structure places the subject first, followed by the information about the agent, and finally the verb, which is typical in Turkish syntax.