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Questions & Answers about Otobüs gecikmiş.
What does the suffix in gecikmiş express?
The suffix -miş is the evidential/indirect past. It signals that the speaker learned the information indirectly (hearsay) or inferred it from evidence. So Otobüs gecikmiş means “The bus is (apparently) delayed / has been delayed,” with a nuance of “it seems” or “I heard.”
How is gecikmiş different from gecikti?
- gecikti (simple past) = “it was delayed/it got delayed,” and you present it as a known fact (you witnessed it or are stating it directly).
- gecikmiş (evidential past) = “it’s apparently/it seems it was delayed,” suggesting you found out or inferred it.
Can gecikmiş also mean “it seems/appears to be delayed”?
Yes. The evidential -miş often maps to English “apparently/seemingly.” You can read Otobüs gecikmiş as “It seems the bus is delayed.”
Is gecikmiş a verb or an adjective here?
Here it’s a finite verb form (predicate) in the evidential past: gecik- + -miş. In other contexts, gecikmiş can be a participle meaning “delayed,” as in gecikmiş otobüs (“the delayed bus”).
Where is the “to be” verb in this sentence?
Turkish doesn’t use a separate “to be” in the present for third person; the verb morphology carries the meaning. In third-person singular, the ending is zero, so Otobüs gecikmiş is a complete sentence without an extra copula.
Why is there no personal ending on gecikmiş?
Third-person singular predicates typically have no overt personal ending. Other persons do:
- gecikmişim (I have apparently been delayed)
- gecikmişsin (you have apparently been delayed)
- gecikmişiz/gecikmişsiniz (we/you-pl)
How do I make it negative or a yes/no question?
- Negative: Otobüs gecikmemiş. (“Apparently the bus wasn’t delayed.”)
- Question: Otobüs gecikmiş mi? (“Has the bus been delayed?”/“Is the bus delayed, apparently?”)
Note the question particle mi is written separately and follows vowel harmony: mı/mi/mu/mü.
What’s the difference between gecikmek and geç kalmak?
- gecikmek = “to be delayed/run late,” common for transport, shipments, processes.
- geç kalmak = “to be late (for something),” common for people.
So Otobüs gecikmiş (bus), but Toplantıya geç kaldım (I was late to the meeting).
What are other natural ways to say this?
- Otobüs gecikti. (stating it as a fact)
- Otobüs gecikiyor. (“The bus is running late.” ongoing)
- Otobüs geç kaldı. (colloquial; “the bus was late”)
- For trains/planes: Otobüs rötar yapmış. (“apparently the bus is delayed,” using the loanword).
How can I specify the amount of delay?
Use a duration before the verb: Otobüs on dakika gecikmiş. (“Apparently the bus is 10 minutes late.”)
How do I add a cause?
Use cause postpositions like yüzünden/ nedeniyle:
- Otobüs trafik yüzünden gecikmiş.
- Kaza nedeniyle otobüs gecikmiş.
What about certainty or hedging?
- More certain: Otobüs gecikti.
- Inference/educated guess: Otobüs gecikmiştir. (formal “must have been delayed”)
- Soft hedges: Galiba/Herhalde otobüs gecikmiş. (“I guess/Probably the bus is delayed.”)
How do I say “The bus still hasn’t come,” which often implies lateness?
- Otobüs hâlâ gelmemiş. (evidential: “apparently it still hasn’t arrived”)
- Otobüs hâlâ gelmedi. (simple past negative: “it still hasn’t arrived”)
Can I change the word order?
Yes, for emphasis: Galiba otobüs gecikmiş. / Otobüs galiba gecikmiş.
But Gecikmiş otobüs is no longer a sentence; it becomes a noun phrase (“the delayed bus”).
How is gecikmiş pronounced and why is it with c, not ç?
- gecikmiş ≈ “ge-jik-mish”: c is like the “j” in “jam,” ş is “sh.”
- It’s spelled with c because the verb is gecikmek (“to be delayed”). Don’t write geçik- (that’s incorrect).
How does this work in the plural?
- Otobüsler gecikmiş. (“Apparently the buses are delayed.”)
Third-person plural also has no overt personal ending in this pattern.
How do I say “Traffic delayed the bus” (causative)?
Use the causative geciktirmek: Trafik otobüsü geciktirmiş. (“Apparently traffic delayed the bus.”)
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