Learn Hardcore Turkish: Özerklik, kişisel özgürlük ve sorumluluğun temelidir. - Autonomy is the basis of personal freedom and responsibility.

Özerklik translates as autonomy (or self-governance); kişisel means personal; özgürlük is freedom; sorumluluk stands for responsibility; and temelidir means "is the basis/foundation", with the suffix -dir acting as a formal copula to indicate "is." Together, the sentence conveys that autonomy is the basis of personal freedom and responsibility.

Why is the genitive suffix applied only to sorumluluk (forming sorumluluğun) and not to kişisel özgürlük?

In Turkish, when two or more nouns share the same possessive or relational construction, only the final noun in the series takes the genitive suffix. Here, kişisel özgürlük ve sorumluluk are jointly connected to temelidir (the basis of), so only sorumluluk gets the suffix -un (becoming sorumluluğun) to indicate "of responsibility"—implicitly applying to both items in the list.

What is the role of the suffix -dir in temelidir?

The suffix -dir is a formal present tense copula in Turkish. It attaches to the noun temel (meaning "basis" or "foundation") to express the state of being. In this sentence, temelidir translates as "is the basis" or "is the foundation."

How is the sentence structured, and how does the Turkish word order compare with English?

The sentence follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) order typical of Turkish. Özerklik is the subject, kişisel özgürlük ve sorumluluğun serves as the compound of objects (showing possession by the genitive suffix on the last noun), and temelidir is the verb-equivalent (copula). In English, the equivalent sentence would follow Subject-Verb-Object order: "Autonomy is the basis of personal freedom and responsibility."

Why is there a comma after Özerklik in this sentence?

The comma after Özerklik helps set the subject apart from the rest of the sentence. In Turkish, commas are often used to create a pause or to emphasize the topic before elaborating further. Here, it functions to highlight Özerklik as the primary concept being discussed.

How can I use this sentence pattern to construct similar sentences in Turkish?

This sentence is a good model for expressing foundational or causal relationships. To create a similar sentence, start with your main subject, then list related qualities or elements (using ve for “and”), ensuring that the final noun in the list receives the genitive suffix to indicate possession. Conclude with a noun (like temel) combined with the -dir copula to express a state or definition. For example, to say "Honesty is the cornerstone of trust and respect," you could adapt this structural pattern with the appropriate Turkish vocabulary and suffixes.