Breakdown of Bu zorunlu derse katılmadan mezun olmak mümkün değildir.
olmak
to be
bu
this
değil
not
mümkün
possible
-e
to
katılmak
to attend
ders
the course
mezun olmak
to graduate
-madan
without
zorunlu
mandatory
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Questions & Answers about Bu zorunlu derse katılmadan mezun olmak mümkün değildir.
What does the suffix -madan mean in katılmadan?
The suffix -madan combines the negative verbal noun suffix -ma with the ablative case ending -dan. Attached to the verb root katıl- (to attend), katılmadan literally means “without attending.” It turns the verb into a non-finite clause expressing “without doing X.”
Why is derse in the dative case instead of the accusative?
In Turkish, the verb katılmak (to attend) requires its object to be marked with the dative case. So ders (course) becomes derse (to the course), giving derse katılmak = to attend the course.
What does mezun olmak mean, and why isn’t it a single verb?
mezun is originally a noun/adjective meaning “graduate,” and olmak means “to be/become.” Combined as mezun olmak, they form a light-verb construction meaning “to graduate.” Turkish often uses X + olmak for concepts that English expresses with one verb.
What does mümkün değildir mean, and how is it different from mümkün değil?
mümkün değildir literally means “it is not possible.”
- mümkün değildir is more formal and common in written or official contexts.
- mümkün değil is the colloquial equivalent you’d hear in everyday speech.
Why are there two negatives in this sentence?
Turkish allows a negative subordinate clause and a negative main clause without cancelling each other. Here, katılmadan uses the negative suffix -ma (“without attending”) and mümkün değildir negates the main clause (“it is not possible”). Together they fully negate the idea of graduating under that condition.
Could I use imkansızdır instead of mümkün değildir?
Yes. imkansızdır means “it is impossible” and functions as a synonym for mümkün değildir. imkansızdır can even sound stronger or more formal, but the overall meaning stays the same.
Can I omit bu from Bu zorunlu derse?
Yes. Saying Zorunlu derse katılmadan mezun olmak mümkün değildir is grammatically correct. Omitting bu just makes it “a mandatory course” rather than “this mandatory course.”
What role does zorunlu play in zorunlu ders?
zorunlu is an adjective meaning “mandatory” or “required.” It modifies ders (course), so zorunlu ders = mandatory course.
How flexible is the word order in this sentence?
Turkish word order is relatively flexible thanks to case markings. The given order—topic (Bu zorunlu derse), subordinate clause (katılmadan), main clause (mezun olmak mümkün değildir)—is the most natural. You could shift elements for emphasis, but wildly rearranging them can make the sentence sound awkward or change the focus.