Questions & Answers about Bugün alışveriş yapıyorum.
Why do we use yapıyorum (I am doing) here instead of a specific verb for "shopping"?
In Turkish, many actions are expressed using a noun plus a helper verb like yapmak (to do/make). Alışveriş is the noun for "shopping" (literally "taking and giving"), so to say "to shop", you say alışveriş yapmak (to do shopping).
This lesson is about the negative suffix. How would I change this sentence to say "I am not shopping today"?
You would change the verb to yapmıyorum. To make the present continuous tense negative, you add the negative particle (in this case, -mı) right after the verb root yap and before the continuous suffix -yor. The full sentence becomes Bugün alışveriş yapmıyorum.
Why is there an ı between yap and yorum in the positive version of the verb?
The verb root is yap (do) and the present continuous suffix is -yor. Because yap ends in a consonant, we need a connecting vowel to stick them together. According to the rules of vowel harmony, the a in yap requires an ı, giving us yapıyor before we add the "I" ending -um.
Does the word bugün literally mean "this day"?
Yes! It is a compound word made by seamlessly combining bu (this) and gün (day). This is a very common way Turkish forms words for specific times.
Learn Bugün alışveriş yapıyorum and more in Turkish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free