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Questions & Answers about Mektubu hatasız yazdım.
Why does mektup become mektubu?
Because Turkish marks definite direct objects with the accusative suffix. Adding -u to mektup (giving mektubu) shows you wrote the letter (not just any letter).
What does the suffix -sız in hatasız mean?
The derivational suffix -sız means “without.” So hatasız literally means “without mistakes” or “errorless.”
Why is it hatasız and not hatasiz, hatasuz, or hatasüz?
Turkish vowel harmony makes the vowel in -sız match the last vowel of hata (which is a, a back vowel). Thus you use -sız.
Is hatasız acting as an adjective or an adverb here?
Morphologically it’s an adjective, but because it’s describing how you wrote, it functions as an adverb (i.e. errorlessly).
Why doesn’t hatasız take the adverbial suffix -ca (as in hatasızca)?
In Turkish you can place plain adjectives before verbs to express manner. If you prefer, you can say Mektubu hatasızca yazdım, where -ca explicitly turns hatasız into an adverb. Both sentences mean “I wrote the letter without mistakes.”
What tense and person does yazdım indicate?
yazdım breaks down as:
• yaz- (write)
• -d(ı) (simple past/definite past tense)
• -m (first-person singular)
Together yaz-d-ım = I wrote.
Why isn’t the subject pronoun ben used?
Turkish is a pro-drop language: the verb ending -dım already indicates I, so ben is optional and usually omitted. You could say Ben mektubu hatasız yazdım for emphasis.
Can the word order change? For example, Hatasız mektubu yazdım?
Yes. Turkish word order is relatively flexible. Putting hatasız first simply emphasizes the error-free manner. Both Mektubu hatasız yazdım and Hatasız mektubu yazdım mean “I wrote the letter without mistakes.”
How would you make this sentence negative?
Insert the negation suffix -ma- before the past-tense marker:
• Mektubu hatasız yazmadım = I didn’t write the letter without mistakes (i.e. you wrote it with mistakes).
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