Question 1

Why is it just tilki gibi and not tilkinin gibi?

Accepted Answer

When using gibi (like/similar to) with regular nouns, the noun stays in its dictionary form without any case endings. You only need to add the genitive case ending (like -in or -im) when using gibi with most personal or demonstrative pronouns, like benim gibi (like me) or bunun gibi (like this).

Question 2

Why does tilki gibi come before kurnaz?

Accepted Answer

In Turkish, modifiers (words or phrases that describe something) usually come directly before the word they describe. Here, the phrase tilki gibi (like a fox) describes how the seller is kurnaz (cunning), so it sits right in front of the adjective.

Question 3

How do we get the word satıcı (seller)?

Accepted Answer

It comes from the verb satmak (to sell). The suffix -ıcı (or -ici, -ucu, -ücü depending on vowel harmony) is added to a verb root to describe a person or thing that does that action. It works a lot like the '-er' in the English word 'seller'.

Question 4

Where is the word for 'is' in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

In Turkish, the 'to be' verb for the third person singular ('he/she/it is') is often invisible. Placing the adjective kurnaz at the very end of the sentence acts as the main verb, making it mean 'is cunning'. While you could add the factual suffix -tır to make it kurnazdır, it is perfectly natural to leave it off in everyday speech.

Bu satıcı tilki gibi kurnaz.

Breakdown of Bu satıcı tilki gibi kurnaz.

Questions & Answers about Bu satıcı tilki gibi kurnaz.

Learn Bu satıcı tilki gibi kurnaz and more in Turkish