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Questions & Answers about Kalıp betonla dolu.
Why isn’t there a word for is or are in the Turkish sentence “Kalıp betonla dolu”?
In Turkish, the present-tense copula (equivalent to English is/are) is dropped. You form a simple predicate by placing the adjective or adjective phrase directly after the subject. So “Kalıp betonla dolu” literally reads “Mold concrete-with full,” which we understand as “The mold is full of concrete.”
What part of speech is dolu in this sentence?
Dolu is an adjective meaning full. It derives from the verb dolmak (to become filled) but functions like any adjective, used both predicatively (“Kalıp betonla dolu”) and attributively (“betonla dolu kalıp”).
Why is beton marked with -la, and what does that suffix mean?
The suffix -la (or -le, depending on vowel harmony) is the instrumental case marker, meaning “with” or “by means of.” When you say betonla dolu, you’re literally saying “full with concrete.” Without -la, you’d lose the link showing what it’s full of.
Can I use the preposition ile instead of the suffix -la? What’s the difference?
Yes. Beton ile dolu is equally correct. The difference is one of style:
- betonla dolu → everyday, colloquial
- beton ile dolu → more formal or written
Both mean “full of concrete.”
Could I omit -la and say Kalıp beton dolu?
No, omitting -la results in two nouns side by side (kalıp + beton) without the necessary “with.” You need the case marker to create the “full of” meaning. Kalıp beton dolu would sound ungrammatical or at best unclear.
How do I turn this into a noun phrase meaning “a mold full of concrete”?
Use betonla dolu attributively before the noun:
• betonla dolu kalıp – “a mold full of concrete”
Here you’re not making a statement (no copula or predicate) but simply describing the noun.
How would I ask “Is the mold full of concrete?” in Turkish?
Add the question particle -mu/-mü/-mö/-mi after dolu (vowel-harmonized):
• Kalıp betonla dolu mu?
Literally “Mold concrete-with full Q?” = “Is the mold full of concrete?”
How do I say “The molds are full of concrete” (plural) in Turkish?
Pluralize the subject only; adjectives in Turkish don’t change for number.
• Kalıplar betonla dolu.
= “The molds are full of concrete.”