Etraf sessiz.

to be

Breakdown of Etraf sessiz.

• sessiz: quiet
• etraf: the surroundings

Questions & Answers about Etraf sessiz.

Why is there no case suffix on etraf? Shouldn’t it be etrafta?

In this sentence etraf is the subject in the nominative case, so it takes no suffix. If you said etrafta sessizlik var (“there’s silence around”), you’d use the locative -ta. But here you simply state “The surroundings are quiet,” so no -ta.

Why isn’t there a verb like is in Etraf sessiz?

Turkish drops the copula “to be” in present-tense descriptive sentences. The structure is Subject + Adjective and the meaning “is” is implied.

Can I add –dir to make it more formal or explicit?

Yes. Adding –dir (Etraf sessizdir) makes the copula explicit, adds formality, and is common in writing or formal speech. In everyday conversation you usually leave it off.

Why don’t we have an article like the or a before etraf?

Turkish doesn’t use articles. Nouns appear without the or a; context or other grammar indicates definiteness.

How do I say “very quiet” or “completely quiet”?