Resmin arka planı mavi.

The background of the picture is blue.

Breakdown of Resmin arka planı mavi.

• olmak: to be
• mavi: blue
• resim: the picture
• arka plan: the background

Questions & Answers about Resmin arka planı mavi.

Why is there no verb in Resmin arka planı mavi?

In Turkish the copula “to be” is usually omitted in the present tense. A sentence with a predicate adjective works without a separate verb. You simply state the subject and then the adjective.

• Implied meaning: “Resmin arka planı (is) mavi.”
• If you need formality or want to be explicit, you can add the suffix -dir: Resmin arka planı mavidir.

What do the words resmin and arka planı mean, and how do they function grammatically?

• resmin = “of the picture” (genitive case, marks the possessor)
• arka planı = “the background” (the possessed noun, marked with a possessive suffix)
  Together, resmin arka planı literally means “the picture’s background,” and it functions as the subject of the sentence.

What is the role of the suffix -in on resmin and -ı on arka planı?

These are possessive constructions in Turkish:

• -in on resim is the genitive suffix indicating “of” or possession (third-person singular).
• -ı on plan is the possessive suffix showing that the background belongs to something (again, third-person singular).
  Both suffixes must agree in person/number: “my picture” would be resmim (possessor) and arka planım (possessed).

What cases are resmin and arka planı in?

• resmin is in the genitive case (shows possession).
• arka planı is in the nominative case (the default, unmarked case for subjects), with an added possessive suffix.

Why isn’t there an article like “the” or “a” in this sentence?

Turkish does not use separate definite or indefinite articles. Instead:

• Definiteness can be shown by context or by adding -i on a noun (as in arka planı, “the background”).
• Indefiniteness can be implied, or you can use words like bir (“a/an”) if needed: Resmin arka planı bir tonda mavi (“The picture’s background is blue in tone”).

Is it correct to say Resmin arka planı mavidir instead? What changes?

Yes. Adding -dir (copula suffix) makes it more formal or emphatic.

• Resmin arka planı mavi. – neutral, everyday style
• Resmin arka planı mavidir. – somewhat formal, explicit “is”

How do you turn Resmin arka planı mavi into a yes/no question?

Add the particle mi (with vowel harmony: mi, mı, mu, mü) right after the adjective:
Resmin arka planı mavi mi?
= “Is the background of the picture blue?”

Is arka plan written as one word or two, and why?

It’s a compound noun often written as two words (arka plan = “background”). In some technical or informal contexts you might see arkaplan, but standard Turkish uses two words.

Can I drop Resmin if it’s clear from context?

Yes. If it’s obvious you’re talking about that picture, you can simply say:
Arka planı mavi.
= “(Its) background is blue.”

How would you say “the backgrounds of the pictures are blue” in Turkish?

You must pluralize both the possessor and the possessed:
Resimlerin arka planları mavi.

• resimler-in = “of the pictures” (plural genitive)
• arka planlar-ı = “their backgrounds” (plural possessive)