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Questions & Answers about Öğrenciler istekli.
Why is there no word for "are" in this sentence?
Turkish usually drops the verb “to be” in the present tense for third person. So Öğrenciler istekli literally says “Students willing,” which is how Turkish expresses “The students are willing.”
- I am willing: Ben istekliyim.
- You are willing: Sen isteklisin.
- He/She/It is willing: O istekli.
- We are willing: Biz istekliyiz.
- You (pl.) are willing: Siz isteklisiniz.
- They are willing: Onlar istekli. (no extra ending is required)
Why isn’t the adjective plural (why not “istekliler”)?
Predicate adjectives in Turkish normally don’t agree in number: you say Öğrenciler istekli, not “istekliler.” In everyday speech, some speakers add plural for human subjects (agreement): Öğrenciler istekliler; it’s acceptable but more colloquial. Be careful: İstekliler on its own means “the willing ones,” i.e., it turns the adjective into a plural noun.
Can I add -dir (as in “isteklidir”)? What does it do?
Yes. -dir/-dır/-dur/-dür (harmonized as -dir here) attaches to the predicate: Öğrenciler isteklidir. It adds formality and often signals certainty, inference, or a general statement (e.g., “Students are [by nature] willing”). Without it, the sentence is neutral and often read as context-specific.
How do I make it negative?