Question 1

How is the word yaptın built?

Accepted Answer

It breaks down into three parts: yap (the root of the verb meaning to do or to make), -tı (the past tense marker), and -n (the you ending for the past tense). Notice that in the past tense, the informal you suffix is just -n, which is different from the -sun you use for the present tense!

Question 2

Why does the past tense suffix in yaptın start with a t instead of a d?

Accepted Answer

The verb root yap ends in p, which is a voiceless or hard consonant. When a suffix that normally starts with d (like the past tense -dı) attaches to a hard consonant, the d hardens into a t to make it easier to pronounce. That is why the ending becomes -tı.

Question 3

Why is the word order büyük bir hata instead of bir büyük hata?

Accepted Answer

In English, we say a big mistake, putting a before the adjective. In Turkish, the word bir (a/an) almost always goes between the adjective and the noun. So the structure is Adjective + bir + Noun.

Question 4

Why is there no word for on before Pazartesi?

Accepted Answer

In Turkish, you generally do not need an extra word or suffix to say on a specific day of the week. Just using the bare name of the day (Pazartesi) in the sentence is enough to mean on Monday.

Pazartesi büyük bir hata yaptın.

Breakdown of Pazartesi büyük bir hata yaptın.

Questions & Answers about Pazartesi büyük bir hata yaptın.

Learn Pazartesi büyük bir hata yaptın and more in Turkish