Breakdown of Sıradan bir gün gibi başladı, ama kusursuz bir sonuçla bitti.
gün
the day
bir
a
ama
but
bitmek
to end
başlamak
to start
gibi
like
sonuç
the result
-la
with
kusursuz
flawless
sıradan
ordinary
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Turkish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Sıradan bir gün gibi başladı, ama kusursuz bir sonuçla bitti.
What does gibi do here, and why does it come after the phrase?
gibi is a postposition meaning like/as (expressing resemblance). Postpositions follow the phrase they govern, so it’s Sıradan bir gün gibi, not gibi sıradan bir gün. Here it means “in the manner of an ordinary day.”
Why is there no subject pronoun (no explicit “it”)?
Turkish is pro‑drop: the subject is understood from the verb ending and context. başladı and bitti are 3rd person singular past, so the subject is implicit (contextually “it/the situation/the day”).
What’s the difference between gibi and olarak?
- gibi = like/as (resemblance/comparison): Sıradan bir gün gibi başladı (it started like an ordinary day).
- olarak = as (in the role/capacity of): Öğretmen olarak başladı (he/she started as a teacher).
Using olarak here would wrongly imply a role.
Why is bir between the adjective and the noun in sıradan bir gün and kusursuz bir sonuç?
The indefinite article bir normally comes right before the noun but after any adjectives: adjective + bir + noun. So sıradan bir gün is the natural order. Bir sıradan gün is unusual and can sound marked or clumsy.
Could I drop bir (e.g., kusursuz sonuçla)?
Usually no. With countable singular nouns, omitting bir often sounds unnatural or too compressed. Kusursuz bir sonuç is the normal way to say “a perfect result.” You typically drop bir with plurals or mass/abstract nouns.
What is the role of -la/-le in sonuçla?
It’s the instrumental/comitative suffix (same function as the separate word ile), meaning with/by/along with. It attaches via vowel harmony (sonuç + la). You could also write sonuç ile, which is a bit more formal or emphatic.
Is sonuçla bitti idiomatic? Could I say something else?
Yes, it’s idiomatic: “ended with a … result.” Alternatives:
- … sonuçlandı (it concluded/resulted)
- … sona erdi (it came to an end)
- … neticeyle bitti (more formal/synonymous with sonuç)
Why bitti and not bitirdi?
bitmek (intransitive) = to end/finish (by itself): Proje bitti.
bitirmek (transitive) = to finish something: Ekibimiz projeyi bitirdi.
Here, the situation ended on its own, so bitti is correct.
Can başlamak take an object? Why is there no case marking here?
başlamak can be:
- Intransitive: başladı (it started).
- With a dative object: Bir şeye başladı (started something).
In Sıradan bir gün gibi başladı, gibi-phrase is an adverbial comparison, not an object, so no case is needed.
What’s the nuance of kusursuz compared to mükemmel or hatasız?
- kusursuz = flawless, without defects (from kusur
- -suz “without”).
- mükemmel = excellent/perfect (often more subjective/praise).
- hatasız = error-free (focus on absence of mistakes).
All fit, but kusursuz stresses “free of flaws.”
Is sıradan the ablative -dan from sıra?
Historically related, but here sıradan is a fixed adjective meaning ordinary/commonplace. Don’t parse it as a case form; you can’t change it to match case the way you would a noun.
Could I say kusursuz bir şekilde bitti instead of kusursuz bir sonuçla bitti?
Yes, but the nuance shifts:
- kusursuz bir şekilde bitti = it ended flawlessly (manner).
- kusursuz bir sonuçla bitti = it ended with a flawless outcome (result).
Both are natural; choose based on whether you stress manner or outcome.
Is the comma before ama required? Could I use fakat or ancak?
The comma is common but not strictly required in short clauses. Ama = but (neutral, everyday). Fakat and ancak are a bit more formal; ancak can also mean only/just in other contexts.
How does -miş gibi work, and why isn’t it used here?
-miş gibi with a verb/clause means as if/as though (often hypothetical/appearance): Sanki sıradan bir günmüş gibi…
Here, a straightforward comparison is enough, so simple gibi with a noun phrase works. If you wanted an “as if (but actually not)” nuance, you’d use -miş gibi (optionally with sanki).
Can I move gibi earlier, like Gibi sıradan bir gün başladı?
No. gibi is a postposition and must follow its complement: Sıradan bir gün gibi. You can, however, rearrange larger chunks for emphasis, e.g., drop the comma: Sıradan bir gün gibi başladı ama kusursuz bir sonuçla bitti.
What tense is başladı / bitti, and what would -miş change?
They’re simple past (-dı/-di). Using evidential past (-miş: başlamış / bitmiş) would signal reported/inferred past or soften the assertion, often used in storytelling or when the speaker didn’t witness the events directly.