Questions & Answers about Bu adam hasta, gülme.
Why does the command "don't laugh" use the suffix -me instead of -ma?
To tell someone not to do something, we take the verb root, which here is gül (laugh), and add the negative suffix -me or -ma. Because gül has a front vowel (ü), vowel harmony rules mean we use -me, giving us gülme.
Where is the verb "is" in Bu adam hasta?
In Turkish, there is no direct equivalent for the word "is" in this kind of sentence. For a third-person subject like Bu adam (This man), you just place the adjective hasta (sick) right after it to mean "This man is sick."
How do we know who shouldn't laugh, since there is no word for "you" in the sentence?
The verb form itself gives it away. Using the bare verb root with the negative suffix (gülme) is the specific command form for sen (informal, singular "you"). We do not need to say sen gülme because the grammar already makes it clear.
Which syllable should I stress when saying gülme?
When using the negative suffix -ma or -me on a verb, the spoken stress falls on the syllable right before the suffix. In gülme, you should emphasize the root gül-. Stressing the wrong syllable can sometimes change the meaning of the word!
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