Learn Hardcore Turkish: İlgili metin masada duruyor. - The relevant text is on the table.

Turkish does not have definite or indefinite articles. Instead, context determines whether a noun is definite (“the relevant text”) or indefinite (“a relevant text”).

How is ilgili formed, and what does it mean?

ilgili = ilgi (interest/connection) + adjectival suffix -li. The suffix -li means “having” or “related to,” so ilgili means “relevant” or “pertaining to.”

Why doesn’t ilgili metin take a case ending?

Here ilgili metin is the subject of the sentence. Subjects in Turkish are in the nominative case and remain unmarked (no suffix).

What case is masada, and how is it formed?

masada is the locative case, meaning “on/at/in the table.” It’s formed by adding -da to masa (table).

How does vowel harmony determine the form of -da in masada?

Turkish vowel harmony pairs back vowels (a, ı, o, u) with -da and front vowels (e, i, ö, ü) with -de. Since masa ends in the back vowel a, you attach -da to get masada.

What does the verb duruyor mean, and what tense/aspect is it?

duruyor comes from the verb durmak (“to stand,” “to remain”). The suffix -yor marks the present continuous, so duruyor = “is standing/remains.”

Why might you choose duruyor instead of var to say “it is on the table”?

var is an existential verb meaning “there is/are.” It simply states existence. duruyor emphasizes the object’s ongoing physical position or posture (“it’s standing/lying there”). Use duruyor when you want that nuance.

Why is there no explicit pronoun for “it” in this sentence?

Turkish typically drops subject pronouns when they’re clear from the verb ending. The -yor in duruyor makes it third person singular, so an explicit o (“he/she/it”) is unnecessary.