Learn Turkish: Biz ne kadar üretken olabiliriz?

Biz ne kadar üretken olabiliriz?

How productive can we be?

Breakdown of Biz ne kadar üretken olabiliriz?

productive (prolific)

Questions & Answers about Biz ne kadar üretken olabiliriz?

How is the word üretken formed in this sentence?

It comes from the verb üretmek (to produce). We add the tendency suffix -gAn / -kAn to show a habit or capacity. Because üret ends in a voiceless consonant (t), the suffix starts with 'k', and following vowel harmony for 'e', it becomes -ken. Thus, üretken means "productive" (having the tendency to produce).

Why do we use ne kadar here instead of nasıl to say "how productive"?

In English, you use "how" plus an adjective (how big, how productive). In Turkish, to ask about the degree or extent of an adjective, you must use ne kadar (literally "how much"). Using nasıl üretken would ask "in what manner is it productive," which isn't what we mean here.

What is the exact breakdown of the verb olabiliriz?

It builds on the verb olmak (to be / become). The root ol- takes the ability suffix -abil (can / able to), followed by the aorist (broad time) tense marker -ir used for general possibilities, and finally the "we" ending -iz. Altogether: ol-abil-ir-iz (we can be).