Questions & Answers about Bu kitap ne kadar?
Where is the word for 'is' in Bu kitap ne kadar?
In Turkish, the verb 'to be' (like 'is' or 'are') is often completely left out in simple present sentences. While you could technically add the 'is' suffix to the end and say Bu kitap ne kadardır?, leaving it off is the most natural and common way to ask this in everyday speech.
Why does 'how much' translate to ne kadar? Doesn't ne just mean 'what'?
Yes, ne literally means 'what', but the word kadar means 'amount' or 'extent'. Put together, ne kadar literally translates to 'what amount?'. This is the standard Turkish phrase used to ask 'how much' for uncountable things like money or time.
Could I use kaç (how many) instead of ne kadar to ask about the price?
Not by itself. Because kaç means 'how many', it is only used for things you can count. However, if you add the currency, you can use it! For example, Bu kitap kaç lira? (How many liras is this book?) is perfectly natural. If you don't name the currency, stick to ne kadar.
Why does the question phrase ne kadar come at the very end of the sentence?
In English, question words like 'how much' almost always jump to the front of the sentence. In Turkish, question words typically sit right where the answer will go. Since the answer would be something like 'Bu kitap elli lira' (This book is fifty liras), the question phrase ne kadar simply takes that same spot!
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