Learn Hardcore Turkish: Süt kalsiyum içerir.

Turkish does not have definite or indefinite articles like “the” or “a/an.” Nouns appear in their bare form. In a generic statement like Süt kalsiyum içerir, Süt simply means milk in general, without needing an article.

Why is kalsiyum not in the plural form?

Kalsiyum is an uncountable noun when talking about the chemical element. Just as in English you say “calcium,” not “calciums,” in Turkish you leave it singular. When a substance or chemical is talked about generally, you don’t pluralize it.

Why doesn’t kalsiyum take the accusative suffix -(y)ı (i.e. kalsiyumu)?

In Turkish, definite direct objects take the accusative suffix, but indefinite or generic objects typically do not. Here, we’re stating a general property of milk (“milk contains calcium” in general), so kalsiyum is indefinite and remains unmarked. If you wanted to talk about a specific calcium element you’d learned about earlier, you could say Süt kalsiyumu içerir—but that sounds odd in this context.

Why is the verb içerir and not içeriyor?

Turkish uses the simple-present tense (–(I)r) for general truths, habitual actions, or universal facts. içerir is the third-person singular simple-present form of içermek (“to contain”). The –yor progressive form (içeriyor) would imply an action taking place right now, which doesn’t fit a timeless fact like “milk contains calcium.”

How do I know içerir is third-person singular?

The suffix -ir (or -er, depending on vowel harmony) marks simple-present for he/she/it. There is no separate subject agreement on the verb in Turkish; the verb ending alone tells you it’s third person singular. Since Süt (“milk”) is singular, we use içerir.

What is the usual word order in this sentence? Could I say Kalsiyum süt içerir?

Turkish is typically Subject–Object–Verb (SOV). Here:
Subject: Süt
Object: kalsiyum
Verb: içerir
You could swap the two noun phrases for emphasis—Kalsiyum süt içerir—but that feels like you’re stressing the calcium first (e.g. “It’s calcium that milk contains”) rather than stating the normal fact. The default neutral order is Süt kalsiyum içerir.

Can I use var instead of içerir, as in Sütte kalsiyum var?

Yes, Sütte kalsiyum var literally means “There is calcium in the milk.” It’s a perfectly natural alternative and emphasizes existence. Notice you need the locative suffix -te on Süt (making sütte), and kalsiyum stays unmarked. Both sentences are correct; the nuance is simply içerir (contains) versus var (there is).