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Questions & Answers about Modem bozuk.
What part of speech is bozuk, and what nuances does it have?
It’s an adjective meaning roughly “broken/out of order/faulty.” Beyond devices, it can also mean “spoiled” (for food), “off/out of tune” (music), “crumpled,” or “small change” in the fixed phrase bozuk para.
Why is there no word for “is” in Modem bozuk?
Turkish doesn’t use a separate “to be” in simple present nominal sentences. With a third-person subject, the copula is zero: Modem bozuk = “The modem is broken.” An optional formal/confirmatory suffix exists: Modem bozuktur.
Is the word order fixed? Why is the adjective at the end?
Typical neutral order in Turkish puts the predicate last. So “Subject + Predicate” gives Modem bozuk. If you put the adjective before the noun—bozuk modem—it becomes an attributive phrase: “a broken modem.”
How do I ask “Is the modem broken?”
Use the question particle after the predicate: Modem bozuk mu? (mu/mi/mü/mı follows vowel harmony; after bozuk, you get mu.)
How do I negate it?
Add değil after the predicate: Modem bozuk değil = “The modem isn’t broken.”
How do I say “My modem is broken”?
Use a possessive: Modemim bozuk. You can add emphasis with the pronoun: Benim modemim bozuk.
How do I say “The modems are broken”?
Pluralize the noun, not the adjective: Modemler bozuk. Predicative adjectives don’t take plural marking.
What’s the difference between Modem bozuk and Modem bozuldu?
- Modem bozuk states the current state: “The modem is broken.”
- Modem bozuldu is eventive: “The modem broke (down).”
Past state is Modem bozuktu (“was broken”).
When would I use bozuk, arızalı, kırık, or çalışmıyor?
- bozuk: not working/defective in general.
- arızalı: “faulty/defective,” more technical/formal.
- kırık: physically broken/cracked.
- çalışmıyor: “is not working/doesn’t operate (right now).”
Also common: Modemde arıza var (“There’s a fault in the modem.”)
Can I add the -dir/-dır suffix here?
Yes: Modem bozuktur. It sounds more formal, assertive, or generic (e.g., a report/announcement). In everyday speech, it’s usually just Modem bozuk.
Can I drop the word “modem” and just say Bozuk?
Yes, if context makes the subject clear. Bozuk alone can mean “It’s broken.”
Why is there no “the” or “a”? How do I show indefiniteness?
Turkish has no articles. Context supplies definiteness. If you need an indefinite sense, use bir: Bir modem bozuk (“A/one modem is broken”)—natural in inventory or lists.
How do I say “This/That modem is broken”?
- Bu modem bozuk. (this)
- Şu modem bozuk. (that, near the listener)
- O modem bozuk. (that, far from both)
How do I add uncertainty or hearsay?
Use the -miş/-mış evidential or modal verbs:
- Modem bozukmuş. (“Apparently/they say the modem is broken.”)
- Modem bozuk olabilir. (“The modem might be broken.”)
What about pronunciation and stress?
- modem: mo-DEM (stress typically on last syllable).
- bozuk: bo-ZUK (short vowels; final -k is a hard k).
In casual speech, intonation often falls at the end of statements.
Are there register or emphasis variants?
Yes:
- More formal: Modem arızalı. / Modem bozuktur.
- Stronger emphasis: Modem tamamen bozuk. (“completely broken”)
- Colloquial confirmation:
- Q: Modem bozuk mu?
- A: Evet, bozuk. / Hayır, bozuk değil.