Questions & Answers about Biz çayla bisküvi yeriz.
Why is bisküvi singular when the English translation says "biscuits"?
In Turkish, when you talk about things in a general, non-specific way (like eating biscuits in general), you don't use the plural suffix. So, bisküvi stays singular because it is a general direct object.
How does the word çayla break down?
It is made of çay (tea) and the suffix form of the word ile, which means "with". Because çay ends in a consonant and its last vowel is an "a", the suffix follows vowel harmony and becomes -la, making çayla (with tea).
Why does the verb use the -r tense (yeriz) instead of the -iyor tense (yiyoruz)?
The verb yeriz uses the Turkish simple present tense (often called the aorist). This tense is used to describe general habits, routines, or facts. Using yeriz means "We [generally] eat", whereas yiyoruz would mean "We are eating [right now]".
How is the simple present tense formed on the verb yeriz?
The verb root is ye- (to eat). For verb roots ending in a vowel, you simply add -r to form this tense, making yer-. Finally, you add the personal ending for "we", which is -iz, resulting in yeriz.