Learn Hardcore Turkish: Piyasa koşulları çok değişkendir.

The sentence breaks down as follows: "Piyasa" means market. "Koşulları" is the plural form of condition with a possessive suffix indicating "of the market" (a typical izafet construction). "Çok" means very, and "değişkendir" comes from the adjective değişken (meaning variable or changeable) with the copula suffix -dir attached. Altogether, it translates to "Market conditions are very variable."

Why does the sentence use "değişkendir" instead of a separate verb like "are"?

In Turkish, the concept of the verb to be is often embedded as a suffix rather than presented as a separate word. The copular suffix -dir attached to değişken serves this purpose, formally stating that the subject is in that state. Although in everyday conversation this suffix might be omitted, including it here lends clarity and formality, functioning similarly to the English "are."

Why is the noun "koşul" transformed into "koşulları" with an -ı suffix?

In Turkish, when indicating a possessive relationship in noun phrases (the izafet construction), the possessed noun takes a suffix that agrees with its possessor. Here, "koşullar" (the plural of condition) receives the -ı suffix to indicate that these conditions belong to the market. Although the possessor "piyasa" does not take a genitive ending, the suffix on "koşullar" makes clear the possession: these are market conditions.

What role does "çok" play in this sentence?

The word "çok" means very and acts as an adverb in the sentence. It intensifies the adjective "değişken," indicating that the conditions are not just variable, but very variable. This is similar to how "very" functions in English.

How does the word order in this Turkish sentence differ from a typical English sentence?

Turkish generally follows a subject–modifier structure where the subject and its descriptors or adjectives come first, and the copula is attached directly as a suffix to the adjective. In "Piyasa koşulları çok değişkendir," "piyasa koşulları" (market conditions) is the subject, followed by the descriptive predicate "çok değişkendir." In contrast, English uses a separate linking verb as in "Market conditions are very variable," highlighting the use of the copula in a different way.