Contrastive topic marker (ise, -ysa)

Comparing with 'ise'

To contrast two subjects, Turkish uses the contrastive marker ise ("whereas", "while", or "as for"). Unlike English words that start a clause, ise is placed immediately after the second subject (the one being contrasted).

whereas / as for (also suffixed as -(y)sA)
ise
Twins' faces are the same, whereas their temperaments are different.
İkizlerin yüzleri aynı, mizaçları ise farklı.
My older sister is very optimistic, as for me, I am pessimistic.
Ablam çok iyimser, ben ise kötümserim.

The Suffixed Form: -(y)sa / -(y)se

In everyday speech and writing, ise is often attached directly to the word it follows. It adheres to 2-way vowel harmony:

  • After a consonant: -sa or -se
  • After a vowel: -ysa or -yse
My mother is very relaxed, whereas my father is strict.
Annem çok rahat, babamsa kuralcı.
I was going to be a painter at university, whereas my older sister preferred the civil service.
Ben üniversitede ressam olacaktım, ablamsa memuriyeti tercih etti.

You can use the standalone and suffixed forms interchangeably.

He was going to be a great painter, whereas his brother chose the civil service.
O büyük bir ressam olacaktı, kardeşi ise memuriyeti seçti.
Why are they so opposite? Because one is relaxed, whereas the other is strict.
Neden bu kadar zıtlar? Çünkü biri rahat, diğeri ise kuralcı.