Question 1

Can you break down the suffixes in kuruduğundan beri?

Accepted Answer

Sure! The verb root is kuru- (to dry). We add the participle suffix -duk (which softens to -duğ-), followed by the 3rd person singular possessive -u (referring to the soil). Then we add the buffer -n- and the ablative case -dan (from). Combined with the postposition beri (since), the entire structure -dIğIndAn beri creates the meaning "since [it] dried."

Question 2

Shouldn't "the soil" be in the genitive case (Toprağın) since it's the subject of a -dik clause?

Accepted Answer

That is a great observation! Normally, the subject of a -dik clause takes the genitive case (like benim geldiğimden beri - since I came). However, when the subject is a non-human, general, or inanimate concept like toprak (soil), the genitive suffix is frequently dropped. The verb still takes the 3rd person possessive -u to match it, though!

Question 3

Why does the English translation use "there is" but Turkish uses var when the situation has been happening for a while?

Accepted Answer

In English, when using "since," we typically use the present perfect tense (e.g., "there has been a famine"). In Turkish, if a state or situation started in the past and is still continuing right now, you simply use the present tense or an existence word like var (there is/exists) alongside beri. The "has been" feeling is already covered by the word beri.

Question 4

What is the root of the word kıtlık?

Accepted Answer

It comes from the adjective kıt, which means "scarce," "short in supply," or "meager." By adding the very common noun-forming suffix -lık, it literally becomes "scarcity" and is the standard word for "famine."

Toprak kuruduğundan beri bu köyde kıtlık var.

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