Word
Bu roman herkes tarafından okundu.
Meaning
This novel was read by everyone.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Questions & Answers about Bu roman herkes tarafından okundu.
Why use tarafından here instead of the -cE suffix (like herkesçe)?
Both are correct and mean "by everyone." However, tarafından is the standard, go-to word for expressing the agent (the doer) in a passive sentence. The suffix -cE (as in herkesçe) is slightly more formal or literary, while tarafından works perfectly in all everyday contexts.
Doesn't tarafından literally mean something about "sides"?
Yes! It comes from the noun taraf (side). With the possessive and ablative suffixes attached, tarafından literally translates to "from the side of." In modern Turkish, you don't need to overthink this literal meaning; it has simply become the standard grammatical tool to say "by [someone]" in passive sentences.
How is the passive verb okundu built?
We start with the verb root oku- (to read). Because it ends in a vowel, it takes the passive suffix -n, becoming okun- (to be read). Finally, we add the definite past tense suffix -du, making okundu (was read).
Why doesn't bu roman take the accusative case (like bu romanı) if it's the thing being read?