Question 1

Why do we use tarafından here instead of the suffix -ce to mean 'by'?

Accepted Answer

The word tarafından is used when the action is done by a specific person or agent, like our genç bir besteci (young composer). The suffix -ce (or -ca) is generally reserved for actions done by institutions, authorities, or a collective group (like 'by the government' or 'by the committee').

Question 2

What does the word tarafından literally mean?

Accepted Answer

It literally translates to 'from the side of'. It is made up of taraf (side), the possessive suffix -ı (its), the buffer letter -n-, and the ablative suffix -dan (from). In passive sentences, it acts as a set postposition meaning 'by'.

Question 3

How is the verb bestelendi built to mean 'was composed'?

Accepted Answer

It is built in layers. It starts with the noun beste (musical composition). The suffix -le turns it into the verb bestele- (to compose). To make it passive, we add -n (used instead of '-il' because the stem ends in a vowel), giving us bestelen- (to be composed). Finally, the past tense suffix -di gives us bestelendi.

Question 4

Why is the word order genç bir besteci instead of bir genç besteci?

Accepted Answer

In Turkish, when you have an adjective and the indefinite article bir modifying the same noun, bir almost always goes between the adjective and the noun. It translates literally as 'young a composer'.

Şarkı genç bir besteci tarafından bestelendi.

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