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Questions & Answers about Tarçın tatlıya yakışıyor.
What does yakışıyor mean, and how is it formed?
yakışıyor comes from the verb yakışmak, which means to suit or to go well with something. It’s formed with the stem yakış-, the present‐continuous suffix -ıyor, and a zero ending for third‐person singular, so it means “it suits” or “it goes well.”
Why is tatlı in the dative case as tatlıya?
Verbs like yakışmak take the thing they suit in the dative case. Adding -ya (or -ye after vowels) marks tatlı as to/for the dessert, indicating the target of “suiting.”
Which word is the subject, and what role does tatlıya play?
The subject is tarçın (cinnamon) in the nominative. tatlıya is an indirect object in the dative case, showing what cinnamon “suits.” The verb yakışıyor is intransitive, so there’s no direct object.
Why aren’t there articles like the or a before tarçın or tatlı?
Turkish does not use articles. Definiteness is shown by context or by adding suffixes like -i (e.g., tatlıyı for “the dessert”). Here both nouns are indefinite or generic without extra words.
Why is tatlı singular here? Can it be plural?
A singular noun in Turkish can express a whole category (generic meaning). You could say tatlılara (“to desserts”) for emphasis on multiple desserts, but tatlıya (“to dessert in general”) is more idiomatic for a general statement.
What tense/aspect does -yor express in yakışıyor? Is it continuous or simple present?
The suffix -yor is officially the present‐continuous marker. In modern usage, though, -yor often conveys general truths as well as ongoing actions. Here it expresses a general fact: “cinnamon goes well with dessert.”
Could you use the simple present (aorist) yakışır instead? What’s the difference?
Yes. tarçın tatlıya yakışır uses the aorist suffix -ır, making a timeless, more formal statement. In conversation, yakışıyor is more common, even for general truths.
How would you make this sentence negative?
Insert -m- before -yor:
tarçın tatlıya yakışmıyor
This means “cinnamon does not suit dessert” or “cinnamon doesn’t go well with dessert.”
Is there another way to say “goes well with” in Turkish?
Yes, you can use iyi gitmek:
tarçın tatlıya iyi gider
Both mean “goes well with,” but yakışmak emphasizes stylistic or visual fitting, while iyi gitmek stresses general compatibility or taste.