……
Breakdown of Bu yol yaygın olarak kullanılıyor.
bu
this
yol
the road
kullanılmak
to be used
yaygın olarak
widely
Questions & Answers about Bu yol yaygın olarak kullanılıyor.
What does kullanılıyor mean, and why is the passive voice used here?
kullanılıyor is the present continuous (progressive) passive form of kullanmak (to use). It’s built by adding the passive suffix -ıl to the root kullan-, then the progressive suffix -ıyor. It literally means “is being used,” but in context it functions like the English simple present passive (“is used”) to show the road is used in general without stating who uses it.
Can you break down kullanılıyor into its suffixes and explain their roles?
Yes. The breakdown is:
• kullan-: verb root “to use”
• -ıl-: passive marker (“to be used”)
• -ıyor: present continuous/progressive tense (also covers general truths)
Together they form kullan+ıl+ıyor = kullanılıyor, meaning “it is used” or “it is being used.”
Does the -ıyor ending always mean something is happening right now?
Not always. While -ıyor marks ongoing action, Turkish uses it for habitual or general truths too—similar to English simple present. In Bu yol yaygın olarak kullanılıyor, it conveys “this road is (generally) used,” not necessarily “right at this moment.”
What does yaygın olarak mean, and why do we need olarak?
Yaygın means “widespread” or “common.” To turn it into an adverb that modifies a verb, you need olarak (“as”). So yaygın olarak = “widely” or “commonly.” Without olarak, yaygın by itself can’t directly modify kullanılıyor.
Could we say yaygınca instead of yaygın olarak?
Although Turkish can use the adverbial suffix -ca/ce, yaygınca is very rare and sounds awkward. Native speakers overwhelmingly prefer yaygın olarak to mean “widely.”
Why is the sentence ordered Bu yol (subject) + yaygın olarak (adverb) + kullanılıyor (verb)?
The neutral Turkish word order is Subject–Adverb–Verb. Case endings and verbal suffixes carry grammatical information, so word order is flexible—but placing Bu yol first and kullanılıyor last gives a clear, unmarked sentence.
Does Bu yol yaygın olarak kullanılıyor only refer to a physical road?
Not necessarily. While yol commonly means a street or path, it can also mean a method or way of doing something. In a technical or abstract context, it might mean “this method is widely used.”
What’s the difference between yaygın olarak and genellikle?
- Genellikle means “generally” or “usually,” focusing on frequency (“it usually happens”).
- Yaygın olarak means “widely,” focusing on scope or spread (“used by many people or in many contexts”).
So Bu yol genellikle kullanılıyor = “This road is usually used,” whereas Bu yol yaygın olarak kullanılıyor = “This road is widely used.”
Any tips for pronouncing yaygın olarak kullanılıyor correctly?
• yaygın: /yaay-guhn/ (the soft ğ lengthens the preceding a)
• olarak: /oh-lah-rak/
• kullanılıyor: /kool-lahn-uh-luh-yor/ (double l, ı is a relaxed “uh”)
Stress in Turkish typically falls on the last syllable, so here on yor in kullanılıyor.
More from this lesson
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Turkish grammar?”
Turkish grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning TurkishMaster Turkish — from Bu yol yaygın olarak kullanılıyor to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions