Expressing Distinct Experiences with -mIşlIğI var
To emphasize that you have the distinct experience of having done something—like trying an extreme sport or surviving a wilderness trek—Turkish uses a special structure.
You attach a suffix to turn the verb into a "state of having done," which you then "possess."
Verb Stem + -mIş + -lIk + Possessive Suffix + var / yok
Because possessive suffixes usually start with a vowel, consonant mutation softens the k in -lIk to ğ.
For example, with yapmak (to do) for the first person ("my experience"):
yap + mış + lık + ım ➔ yapmışlığım
Then, add var (I have) or yok (I don't have). Follow standard 4-way vowel harmony for the -mIş and -lIk suffixes based on the verb's final vowel.
| I have the experience of having jumped from a plane with a parachute. | Benim uçaktan paraşütle atlamışlığım var. |
| He doesn't have the experience of having done any extreme sports. | Onun hiçbir ekstrem spor yapmışlığı yok. |
Using Different Subjects
You can apply this to anyone by changing the possessive pronoun and suffix:
Benim ... -mişliğim var(I have the experience of...)Senin ... -mişliğin var(You have the experience of...)Onun ... -mişliği var(He/She has the experience of...)Bizim ... -mişliğimiz var(We have the experience of...)
| We have the experience of having swum in the waterfall at the age of twelve. | Bizim on iki yaşında şelalede yüzmüşlüğümüz var. |
| I don't have the experience of having fallen from a waterfall, but I have the experience of having felt a lot of adrenaline. | Şelaleden düşmüşlüğüm yok ama çok adrenalin hissetmişliğim var. |
Asking About Experiences
To ask if someone has had a notable experience, simply add the question particle mı/mi after var.
| Do you have the experience of having jumped with a parachute? | Senin paraşütle atlamışlığın var mı? |