Learn Hardcore Turkish: Ofisteki sandalyeler dayanıklı. - The chairs in the office are durable.

Ofisteki comes from the noun ofis (“office”) combined with two suffixes. First, the locative suffix -te is added (forming ofiste, meaning “in the office”), and then the relative suffix -ki is attached to turn the phrase into an adjective. This construction indicates “the ones that are in the office,” so when it modifies sandalyeler (“chairs”), it means “the chairs in the office.”

How is the plural form indicated in sandalyeler?

The plural is marked by the suffix -ler added to the singular noun sandalye (“chair”). Turkish vowels follow harmony rules, so -ler is used here instead of -lar, indicating that sandalyeler means “chairs.”

What does dayanıklı mean, and how is it formed?

Dayanıklı means “durable” or “resistant.” It is derived from the verb stem dayan- (meaning “to withstand” or “to endure”) combined with the adjective-forming suffix -ıklı, which gives it the quality of having endurance or durability.

Why is there no verb equivalent to “are” in the sentence?

In Turkish, the present tense of the verb “to be” is often omitted, especially in simple descriptive sentences. Here, dayanıklı serves as a predicative adjective that describes the subject sandalyeler without needing an explicit copula like “are.”

Why does ofisteki appear before sandalyeler rather than after it?

Turkish word order typically places adjectives and modifying phrases before the noun they describe. In this sentence, ofisteki comes before sandalyeler to specify which chairs are being talked about—namely, those located in the office.