Adayların çoğu deneyimli, ama ben de istekliyim.

Most candidates are experienced, but I am eager as well.

Breakdown of Adayların çoğu deneyimli, ama ben de istekliyim.

• olmak: to be
• ben: I
• ama: but
• de: also

Questions & Answers about Adayların çoğu deneyimli, ama ben de istekliyim.

Why is it “adayların çoğu” and not just “adaylar çoğu”?

Because çoğu (“most of”) in this structure takes a genitive complement: “most of the X” = X-in çoğ-u.

• aday-lar-ın çoğ-u = most of the candidates
• This is the regular “genitive + possessed head” pattern, also seen in öğrencilerin yarısı (half of the students), kitapların hepsi (all of the books).

What does the -u at the end of “çoğu” do?

It’s the 3rd person singular possessive ending on the head noun/pronoun “çoğ-” (“most”), giving çoğ-u = “its/their most.” In this construction the head is possessed by the genitive phrase: adayların çoğu = “the candidates’ most” → “most of the candidates.”

Can I say “çoğu aday” instead of “adayların çoğu”? What’s the difference?

• çoğu aday = “most candidates” (indefinite, general statement, not a specific set)
• adayların çoğu = “most of the candidates” (a specific, known set) Choose based on whether you mean a general tendency or a specific group in context.

Why isn’t there a plural ending on the predicate? Should it be “deneyimliler”?

With quantified subjects like çoğu, the predicate adjective is usually in the singular: Adayların çoğu deneyimli is perfectly standard. You will also hear the plural predicate with -ler when the subject is human: Adayların çoğu deneyimliler. Both are acceptable; the singular is more neutral and common in writing, while the plural can add a feeling of agreement/emphasis with a human group.