The Verb 'to be' (Present Tense)

Present Tense 'to be'

In Turkish, 'to be' in the present tense is expressed through suffixes attached to nouns or adjectives, not a separate word.

Suffixes (follow i-type vowel harmony):

-(y)im - I am

-sin - you are

-(no suffix) - he/she/it is

-(y)iz - we are

-siniz - you are (formal/plural)

-(ler) - they are

Öğrenci-yim

I am a student

öğrenci + yim

Türk-üm

I am Turkish

Türk + üm (vowel harmony: ü)

Mutlu-yuz

We are happy

mutlu + yuz

Buffer 'y'

When the word ends in a vowel, add 'y' before the suffix to prevent vowel collision.

Ends in vowel → add 'y'

Ends in consonant → no 'y'

hasta-yım

I am sick

hasta ends in 'a', so add 'y'

öğretmen-im

I am a teacher

öğretmen ends in 'n', no 'y' needed

Negative Form

To make 'to be' negative, add 'değil' before the personal suffix.

Pattern: ... değil + personal suffix

Öğrenci değilim

I am not a student

değil + im

Türk değiliz

We are not Turkish

değil + iz

Exercises

fill in-blank

Complete: Mutlu__ (I am happy)

Answer: yum

mutlu ends in 'u', so use buffer 'y' + um = yum

translation

Translate: We are not teachers

Answer: Öğretmen değiliz

öğretmen + değil + iz

conjugation

Say 'You are Turkish' (formal)

Answer: Türksünüz

Türk + sünüz (formal you are)