Question 1

Why do we use neresi here instead of nerede?

Accepted Answer

English uses "where" for both, but Turkish makes a distinction. Nerede asks for a location ("at what place"). Neresi acts as a noun meaning "what place" or "which place". By asking neresi, the speaker is pointing out or asking for the specific identity of the shop ("Which of these places is it?"), rather than asking for directions to find it.

Question 2

Break down the word sağdaki. Why is there a -da before the -ki?

Accepted Answer

Sağ means "right". We add the locative suffix -da to get sağda (on the right). The suffix -ki means "the one that is", turning the location into an adjective. Together, sağdaki means "the one that is on the right".

Question 3

Is kuyumcu the jeweler (person) or the jewelry store?

Accepted Answer

It can be both! The suffix -cu turns the root kuyum (jewelry) into the profession (jeweler). In Turkish, it is very common to use the profession's name to refer to their shop, much like saying "the baker's" or "the jeweler's" in English.

Question 4

Why isn't there a "to be" verb like -dir at the end of neresi?

Accepted Answer

In conversational Turkish, the third-person "to be" suffix (-dir / -tir) is often dropped when stating a simple fact or asking a direct question. Saying Sağdaki kuyumcu neresidir? is grammatically correct but sounds much more formal.

Sağdaki kuyumcu neresi?

Breakdown of Sağdaki kuyumcu neresi?

Questions & Answers about Sağdaki kuyumcu neresi?

Learn Sağdaki kuyumcu neresi and more in Turkish